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The abrupt departure of China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July left the world confused and shocked. The former rising star of China’s diplomatic corps and the country’s ruling elites became the country’s shortest-serving foreign minister when he was removed from office after a month-long disappearance from public life.
If Beijing had come clean about the reasons for Qin’s dismissal and been willing to address media questions, it might have incurred nothing more than embarrassment.
There is bound to be speculation about why Qin Gang was ousted just seven months into the job but his replacement, who held the post for nearly 10 years, is well respected around the world and brings stability during uncertain times.
- From property curbs in Hong Kong being scrapped to the intensifying durian market in China, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting
Statement from NPC Standing Committee meeting says Qin Gang was not dismissed or expelled.
A day after US announces new investment curbs, Beijing’s top diplomat accuses Washington of suppressing emerging countries and ‘coercing’ others into ‘unilateral protectionism’ during meeting with Singaporean leader.
Australia’s embassy in Beijing has issued an invitation from Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong for her newly reappointed Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to visit Canberra, according to sources close to the Australian government.
‘Soft landing’ indicates wish to avoid embarrassing top leadership and keep foreign policy stable ahead of busy season for diplomacy, analysts say.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman tells media not to ‘over-decode’ matters as Qin’s information reappears on official website.
The Chinese Communist Party has a history of turning to senior figures to steady the ship in emergencies and Wang’s return may be in line with this precedent.
Qin Gang’s abrupt ousting means foreign diplomats will once again be dealing with someone who is seen in Europe as ‘a known quantity, but not well-liked’.
Absence of details on downfall of once rising star has left online and offline communities confused, with several questioning the health issues angle.
Qin’s replacement has been named, ending weeks of speculation, but it’s still not clear what prompted the former foreign minister’s removal.
Predecessor Wang Yi will take on the role’s responsibilities.
China’s foreign minister has not been seen publicly since June 25, and the effects on Beijing’s relations with Washington are growing, especially before a possible Xi Jinping-Joe Biden meeting in November.
From the prolonged absence of China’s foreign minister to Singapore’s political memes, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.
Beijing has been unable to damp down speculation as sceptics question official line that unspecified health problems are the cause of his prolonged absence.
Borrell ‘tentatively’ agreed to the visit after a meeting with China’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi last week, according to a senior Brussels source
Qin has not been seen in public since late last month, including talks with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
Video: Blinken and Qin Gang agree to continue talks after ‘constructive’ US-China meeting in Beijing
US State Department called talks ‘candid, substantive, and constructive’, while Beijing mixed calls to continue high-level exchanges and expand cultural, business and educational exchanges with a warning about Taiwan.
The US secretary of state will discuss the importance of keeping open lines of communication and discuss potential areas of cooperation, Washington says.
Making his first trip to China in three years, Musk says the company is opposed to ‘decoupling’.
Chinese foreign minister urges nuclear watchdog chief to resist efforts to undermine international cooperation.
‘What China exports to Europe and the whole world is sureness rather than risk’, Qin says in Oslo, repeating call to shun US policy of decoupling.
Qin Gang responds to Norwegian business leaders’ questions about the Ukraine war, green transformation, intellectual property protection and US-China relations.
China’s foreign minister Qin Gang will visit Australia in July amid improving ties between Beijing and Canberra, according to a source close to the Chinese government and an Australian academic.
The German city is the site of a defining moment in the post-war order and has special significance for Beijing.
Chinese foreign minister also reaffirms position on political settlement in Ukraine during Paris talks, while French counterpart Catherine Colonna says Beijing has ‘important role to play in convincing Russia to return to full respect’ for UN Charter.
