“We have taken notice that the [foreign ministry] website has been updating. It’s normal to update information. You don’t have to over-decode our information,” spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.
Tuesday’s announcement made no mention of Qin’s role as a member of the State Council – China’s cabinet – but records of his work as foreign minister remained on the State Council’s website.
Qin’s sudden removal from office has raised questions about the lack of transparency in Chinese politics, as no official reason was provided for the move. The foreign ministry had attributed his absence in early July to unspecified “health reasons” but subsequently said it had “no information” on the matter.
Some observers have suggested that the turn of events could be viewed as a setback for Xi’s government, but Wang’s statement on the foreign ministry website on Friday asserted collective faith in his leadership.
“We will unite more closely around the Communist Party’s Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core,” Wang said.
Wang was promoted last year to foreign affairs chief for China’s ruling Communist Party, making him the country’s No 1 diplomat. He had been foreign minister for nearly a decade before being succeeded by Qin in December.
He had also been filling in for Qin at diplomatic meetings before the formal announcement of his dismissal, and is seen by observers as a “safe choice” in a busy year for diplomacy.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, seen in March, disappeared from the public eye earlier this month for unexplained reasons. Photo: EPA-EFE
China would “firmly pursue an independent foreign policy of peace” and actively take part in the reform of global governance, Wang said in his statement, while pledging to expand partnerships with countries around the world.
“[China will] resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests” and “fully protect” the rights of Chinese citizens, he said.
Observers said the move to reappoint Wang was typical of Beijing’s playbook – in line with the tradition of entrusting members of its top decision-making body, the Politburo, to steer the party through a political crisis.
Wang’s reappointment makes him one of China’s most powerful foreign ministers in decades and the first Politburo member since Qian Qichen to hold the position.
Some analysts have suggested that China’s Wolf Warrior approach – an assertive and combative style of diplomacy – was likely to continue with Wang at the helm, despite the exit of the tough-talking Qin.
