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China’s ex-foreign minister Qin Gang stripped of last remaining state title
- Qin is no longer state councillor, the Standing Committee of China’s top legislative body has announced, without offering details
- Move is a fresh blow for once-rising political star who has not been seen in public for four months
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Sylvie Zhuangin Beijing
Qin Gang, China’s shortest-serving foreign minister, has been stripped of his only remaining government title.
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Qin is no longer a state councillor, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress – China’s top legislative body – announced on Tuesday. No explanation was given for the move.
The removal of the title, which gave Qin a rank higher than ministers in the State Council, China’s cabinet, dealt a fresh blow to the career of the once-rising political star and trusted protégé of President Xi Jinping.
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It comes months after Qin was removed as foreign minister in July, following weeks of speculation over his disappearance from public view since late June. His predecessor and top diplomat Wang Yi was named to replace him.
02:49
Big political questions linger after China abruptly replaces its foreign minister
Big political questions linger after China abruptly replaces its foreign minister
Beijing has offered no information on either the whereabouts of Qin or the rationale behind the personnel change.
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