One of the most powerful ministers in China’s contemporary political landscape is reportedly missing since quite a while.
China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, has not been seen in public for over three weeks, despite a flurry of high-profile diplomatic efforts to repair ties with the United States.
As a former ambassador to Washington DC, who is considered a protege of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Qin was expected to play a key role in a string of high-level visits by US officials.
But his last public appearance was a meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart in Beijing on 25 June.
He did not join Chinese officials at talks with the Treasury secretary, Janet Yellen, in early July, or as part of the ongoing visit by climate envoy John Kelly.
Last week Qin was replaced as head of Beijing’s delegation to the Asean summit in Indonesia.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the time that Qin would not go “due to health reasons” but gave no details.
His absence comes on the heels of a rapid rise in elite Chinese politics that saw him serve for less than two years as US ambassador, before being elevated to the post of foreign minister in December.
#Qingang #Qingangmissing #Fuxiaotian ~PR.153~ED.101~HT.178~
