China on Tuesday replaced its foreign minister Qin Gang with his predecessor Wang Yi. According to reports, Qin Gang was removed following his lack of appearance in public since June.
In an announcement on Tuesday evening, state media gave no reason for Qin's removal, but it comes after he dropped out of sight almost one month ago amid speculation over his personal affairs and political rivalries.
The ministry has provided no information about Qin's status in keeping with the ruling Communist Party's standard approach to personnel matters within a highly opaque political system where the media and free speech are severely restricted.
The ministry made no comment at its daily briefing on Tuesday. The move comes amid a foreign backlash against China's increasingly aggressive foreign policy, of which Qin was a chief proponent. According to reports, Wang, who has been serving as the director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission has been standing in for the foreign minister for the past few weeks.
Wang, who was the foreign minister in XI's first and second cabinet attended the BRICS summit representing China. Wang also met with India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval on the sidelines of the summit. Wang during the meeting with Doval said the two sides should enhance strategic mutual trust, focus on consensus and cooperation, overcome obstacles and bring bilateral relations back on track of sound and stable development as soon as possible.
South China Morning Post reported that according to China's foreign ministry, Qin was last seen in public during a meeting of senior diplomats from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka on June 25. SCMP reported that Qin rose rapidly through the ranks and was appointed China’s ambassador to the United States in July 2021, and was elevated as foreign minister 17 months later, He was made state councillor in March, a position that ranks above a cabinet minister.
(With PTI inputs.)