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Diplomacy
ChinaDiplomacy

China replaces Qin Gang with Wang Yi, but big political questions linger after foreign minister change-up

  • Qin’s replacement has been named, ending weeks of speculation, but it’s still not clear what prompted the former foreign minister’s removal
  • Wang’s appointment makes him the most powerful person to hold the position in decades

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There is still no official explanation for Qin Gang’s removal as foreign minister. Photo: AFP
Shi Jiangtao
China has replaced its foreign minister Qin Gang with his predecessor Wang Yi in an unprecedented move that leaves more questions than answers to one of the most engrossing political dramas in recent years.
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Citing a decision by the nation’s top legislation body, state media said simply on Tuesday that Qin, who disappeared from the public view in June, was removed from his position.

The reports did not elaborate or say what will happen to the former senior diplomat or his other responsibilities.

Qin, who was promoted by Chinese President Xi Jinping just seven months ago, is also a state councillor and a member of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee.

While he is now most likely to lose these positions as well, there was no mention of them in Tuesday’s terse statement, leaving the public guessing as to the cause of this abrupt change.

04:17

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

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

Equally puzzling was his replacement. Instead of promoting another candidate, the leadership passed the position to Wang, who was promoted to the powerful Politburo just months ago and was a rank higher than Qin.

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