Qin Gang, 57, who has not been seen at public events since June 25, has been fired, according to Chinese state media.
His position is now being taken over by Chinese Communist Party chief of international relations Wang Yi, who previously held the position of minister.
“China’s top legislature has voted to appoint Wang Yi as foreign minister,” state-run Xinhua news agency said. “Qin Gang has been ousted as foreign minister.”
The report gives no reason for Qin’s removal, but says President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order enacting the decision.
Qin was seen as Xi’s close confidant, and many analysts attributed his recent meteoric rise through the diplomatic ranks to their relationship.
China remained silent for weeks on the fate of Qin, who has not been seen in public for a month when he met with Russian Vice Chancellor Andrey Rudenko in Beijing.
His absence sparked a firestorm of speculation about whether he had been removed from office or subject to an official investigation.
Qin Gang spent several years at the Chinese Embassy in London and is fluent in English. Qin has earned a reputation as the “Wolf Warrior”, a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who counter Western criticism of Beijing with often inflammatory rhetoric.
In 2020, he claimed that China’s image in the West had deteriorated because Europeans and Americans – especially the media – had never accepted China’s political system or its economic rise.
As ambassador to the United States, Qin increased his visibility through public and media appearances in Washington, explaining China’s position.
After his appointment as minister, he had a busy schedule: he visited Africa, Europe and Central Asia and received foreign dignitaries in Beijing.
Source: DN
