China Removes Qin Gang As Foreign Minister

 

CNBC: China removes Qin Gang as foreign minister after one-month absence 

* Qin Gang, 57, made his last public appearance in Beijing on June 25, when he held talks with counterparts from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and key trade partner Russia. 

* He progressively rose up the ranks of Beijing’s diplomatic service, including a two-year stint as ambassador to the United States, before being promoted to lead the foreign ministry in December. 

Xi Jinping’s Beijing administration appointed China’s top diplomat Wang Yi to replace Qin Gang as foreign minister, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Tuesday, after the latter’s one-month absence. 

 No reason was given for the dismissal. 

Qin, 57, made his last public appearance in Beijing on June 25, when he held talks with counterparts from Vietnam, Sri Lanka and key trade partner Russia. 

He progressively rose up the ranks of Beijing’s diplomatic service, including a two-year stint as ambassador to the United States, before being promoted to lead the foreign ministry in December.  

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: He has been replaced by his predecessor, Wang Y. No reasons why he has been removed have been made public. 

As to what is my take. 

My gut told me last week that something was wrong. Chinese Foreign Ministers do not disappear like he did. 

 If it was due to family or health issues, the Chinese government would say so. Because they are silent tells me that he was removed because of a scandal or over a difference on a key Chinese foreign policy issue. 

Chinese media is only reporting on his removal, not on the reason why .... China's top legislature adopts a decision of removing Qin Gang as foreign minister, appoints Wang Yi as foreign minister (Global Times). 

China Removes Qin Gang As Foreign Minister  

China removes its outspoken foreign minister, fueling rumors of rivalries within the Communist Party -- AP  

China replaces foreign minister Qin after one-month absence -- Reuters  

China replaces foreign minister with predecessor amid speculation over weeks-long absence -- France 24  

Qin Gang: China removes foreign minister after unexplained absence -- BBC  

Xi Jinping’s foreign minister ousted after month-long unexplained absence from public view -- CNN  

China ousts foreign minister who has been missing for a month -- FOX News  

China removes its outspoken foreign minister, fueling rumors of rivalries within the Communist Party -- The Hill  

Still no sign of Qin Gang as China says foreign minister has been replaced -- The Guardian  

China sacks foreign minister not seen in public for weeks -- DW  

China replaces missing foreign minister Qin Gang with Wang Yi -- ABC News Australia  

China replaces Foreign Minister Qin Gang with Wang Yi -- Al Jazeera