China dismisses Foreign Minister Qin Gang after he went missing for one month
The communist regime informed that Wang Yi will succeed him in office. Beijing attributes his absence to alleged health problems, though provided no proof.
The Chinese communist regime dismissed Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has been missing for a month. The information was published by the state-owned news network CCTV. No information was provided on the politician's whereabouts.
"The fourth session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress, which took place at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 25th July, voted to decide to remove Qin Gang from the post of foreign minister," CCTV reported .
The agency detailed that Wang Yi will take over as foreign minister. "President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to give effect to the decision."
Speculation about Gang's disappearance began a month ago, when it was reported that he would not be present at the annual diplomatic meeting in Indonesia. According to statements made by a spokesman for his ministry, as reported by Reuters, the minister's absence was justified by health problems. But it was not the first engagement he cancelled. He was also due to meet with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell earlier this month in Beijing, but the meeting was called off.
Qin Gang, 57 years old, is a well-known personality who managed to consolidate his position quickly. He served as China's ambassador to the United States for about a year and a half. He assumed the post of foreign minister seven months ago, and in March succeeded in becoming state councilor, the third highest-ranking position in the Chinese communist regime.