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Qin Gang

Qin Gang
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.
Born
19 Mar 1966
Industry
Politics
Job Title
Former Foreign Minister of China
last updated:
7 October, 2024
Illustration: Henry Wong
China’s Communist Party

No bold moves: China’s wide anti-corruption net has officials afraid to innovate

China’s leadership urged to introduce new incentives for local officials who are now playing it safe in the face of anti-graft measures.

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China’s third plenum

China eyes bold 10-year tech and economic goals, sets plenum dates

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SCMP Highlights

Hong Kong property curbs scrapped, Qin Gang resigns: 7 highlights of the week

China’s Communist Party

Former Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang resigns from country’s legislature

Statement from NPC Standing Committee meeting says Qin Gang was not dismissed or expelled.

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China’s former foreign minister Qin Gang, who disappeared from public view in June last year, has resigned from his deputy membership ahead of a key national meeting. Photo: AFP
Asean

Asian Angle | How Southeast Asia can benefit as China seeks out more friends

China’s relationship with Southeast Asia has gained importance in light of Western powers’ attempts to expand influence in the Asia-Pacific.

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China-Singapore relations

China’s foreign minister blasts US as ‘biggest source of instability’

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.

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China-Australia relations

Exclusive | With ‘no downside’, Australia extends invite to China’s foreign minister Wang Yi

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.

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Wang Yi replaced Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public since June, as foreign minister last week. Photo: Dpa
Diplomacy

Opinion | Stony silence over Qin Gang saga does China’s reputation no favours

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.

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China’s Communist Party

What haze around Qin Gang says about inner workings of China’s Communist Party

‘Soft landing’ indicates wish to avoid embarrassing top leadership and keep foreign policy stable ahead of busy season for diplomacy, analysts say.

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Diplomacy

China’s Wang Yi speaks as foreign minister, as Qin Gang reappears on website

Foreign ministry spokeswoman tells media not to ‘over-decode’ matters as Qin’s information reappears on official website.

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Wang Yi, Politburo member and Communist Party foreign affairs chief, has been reappointed as China’s foreign minister, a role he held for nearly a decade. Photo: EPA-EFE
Diplomacy

Exit Qin Gang, enter Wang Yi — what is behind China’s foreign minister switch?

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.

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Wang Yi has already stepped in for Qin Gang at several high-profile events. Photo: EPA-EFE
Diplomacy

Editorial | Wang Yi’s return as China’s foreign minister is a signal of continuity

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.

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China’s Communist Party

Chinese foreign minister switch: Wolf Warrior, hopes of stability

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’.

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China’s Communist Party

‘Just tell the truth, the sky won’t fall’: Chinese left guessing about Qin Gang

Absence of details on downfall of once rising star has left online and offline communities confused, with several questioning the health issues angle.

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Qin Gang has become China’s shortest-serving foreign minister but remains a state councillor. Photo: AP

Questions remain after China replaces foreign minister Qin Gang

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Diplomacy

China replaces Qin Gang with Wang Yi, but big questions linger

Qin’s replacement has been named, ending weeks of speculation, but it’s still not clear what prompted the former foreign minister’s removal.

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Diplomacy

China removes Qin Gang as foreign minister after month-long absence

Predecessor Wang Yi will take on the role’s responsibilities.

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US-China relations

Where in the world is Qin Gang, and why it matters to US-China diplomacy

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.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is seen at a joint news conference with his Dutch counterpart Wopke Hoekstra in Beijing on May 23. Qin has not been seen in public since June 25. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Mystery of China’s missing minister takes toll on country’s image: 7 highlights

From the prolonged absence of China’s foreign minister to Singapore’s political memes, here are a few highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

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China’s Communist Party

Mystery over China’s missing foreign minister takes toll on country’s image

Beijing has been unable to damp down speculation as sceptics question official line that unspecified health problems are the cause of his prolonged absence.

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China-EU relations

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell eyes October trip to China

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

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Josep Borrell and Wang Yi met in Jakarta, Indonesia on Saturday. Photo: Xinhua
China-Asean relations

‘Health reasons’: Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to miss Asean meeting

Qin has not been seen in public since late last month, including talks with US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s last public activities were in late June. Photo: Reuters
US-China relations

Video: Blinken and Qin Gang agree to continue talks after ‘constructive’ US-China meeting in Beijing

US-China relations

Blinken and Qin call talks in Beijing ‘constructive’, agree to meet again

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.

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US-China relations

US-China relations: Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit confirmed

The US secretary of state will discuss the importance of keeping open lines of communication and discuss potential areas of cooperation, Washington says.

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Antony Blinken will visit China for two days, starting on Sunday. Photo: AFP
US-China relations

We’re open for business, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang tells Elon Musk

Making his first trip to China in three years, Musk says the company is opposed to ‘decoupling’.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang (right) meets Tesla CEO Elon Musk in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: AP
G7

China’s Qin Gang calls for UN ‘objectivity’ in face of G7 nuke pressure

Chinese foreign minister urges nuclear watchdog chief to resist efforts to undermine international cooperation.

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China-EU relations

‘China is Europe’s partner’: Foreign Minister Qin calls to oppose decoupling

‘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.

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