Wang Yi Replaces Qin Gang As Chinese Foreign Minister: Report

Wang Yi was appointed the new Foreign Minister of China after his predecessor Qin Gang was removed from the post after a Chinese legislature meeting.

Outgoing Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang (left) and his successor Wang Yi (right)

Source : Getty Images

Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang has been removed from office, news agency AFP has reported citing state media. According to Global Times, China's top legislature convened a session on Tuesday to review a draft criminal law amendment and a decision on official appointment and removal. Chinese President Xi Jinping's top foreign policy aide and director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Wang Yi has been appointed as the new foreign minister.

Wang had been standing in as foreign minister for the past few weeks, attending various diplomatic events, including the BRICS summit in South Africa and meetings with former US Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and John Kerry in China. Qin's absence from public view since June triggered domestic political discussions and it became one of the major crises for Chinese President Xi Jinping during his third term, reported Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post.

This decision aligns with the Organic Law of the National People's Congress, which grants the Standing Committee the authority to appoint or remove certain members of the State Council.

Qin's disappearance has given rise to rumours on social media and among foreign diplomats, while the Chinese government has remained vague about his status, attributing his absence to unspecified "health reasons" since early July. This secretive handling of the situation has drawn widespread criticism, impacting China's international image and raising concerns about the government's credibility and decision-making transparency.

Once considered a trusted aide to the president, Qin's career had seen a rapid rise from ministry spokesman to deputy foreign minister and eventually to the position of foreign minister and state councillor. However, his removal from office has now marked a significant turning point in his political career.

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