China’s ex-foreign minister Qin Gang stripped of last remaining state title

Qin Gang, China’s shortest-serving foreign minister, has been stripped of his only remaining government title.

Qin is no longer a state councillor, the core Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress – China’s top legislative body – announced on Tuesday. No explanation was given for the move.

The removal of the title, which gave Qin a rank higher than ministers in the State Council, China’s cabinet, dealt a fresh blow to the career of the once-rising political star and trusted protégé of President Xi Jinping.

It comes two months after Qin was removed as foreign minister, following weeks of speculation over his disappearance from public view since late June. His predecessor and top diplomat Wang Yi was named to replace him.

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Beijing has offered no information on either the whereabouts of Qin or the rationale behind the personnel change.

He remains a member of the 205-strong Central Committee, the ruling Communist Party’s top decision-making body – seating the most powerful people in the country.

The 57-year-old has also missed State Council meetings since being removed as foreign minister on July 25, according to details made public by state media.

Qin was appointed to the post in December, hand-picked by Xi after serving 17 months as Beijing’s ambassador to the United States.

He was made a state councillor during the annual legislative sessions in March, when the party completed a twice-a-decade leadership transition – with a reshuffle of top government jobs and confirmation of Xi’s third term as president of China.

Qin’s post as state councillor allowed him to assist Chinese Premier Li Qiang in his duties along with the four other holders of the title – Defence Minister General Li Shangfu, public security chief Wang Xiaohong, and former provincial party chiefs Wu Zhenglong and Shen Yiqin.

Stony silence over Qin Gang saga does China’s reputation no favours

The only official explanation offered for Qin’s absence from public view came on July 11, when a foreign ministry spokesman said he would not be attending a regional meeting for “health reasons”, offering no further explanation. Wang, the higher-ranked Communist Party foreign affairs chief, represented China in Qin’s place.

Qin’s mysterious disappearance and sudden removal from high-profile posts have sparked intense speculation among the Chinese public and international community, serving as yet another reminder of the veil of secrecy that surrounds politics in Beijing.

He was last seen in meetings with diplomats from Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka in Beijing on June 25.

South China Morning Post