Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s Absence from Public Eye Sparks Speculation

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not made any public appearances for three weeks, raising speculation about his condition and absence from diplomatic events.

Qin Gang was last seen in public on June 25 when he met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko in Beijing. Since then, he has been absent from scheduled meetings and important events. His absence was notable during a planned meeting with European Union foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell in Beijing in early July, which was abruptly canceled by Beijing. Another diplomat, Wang Yi, attended the meeting in Qin Gang’s place. Wang Yi previously served as China’s foreign minister until December of the previous year.

Further, Qin Gang did not participate in the recent meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) held in Jakarta, Indonesia. In response to inquiries about his absence, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited health reasons for Qin Gang’s inability to attend the meeting.

Analysts outside of China have raised speculations about factors other than health contributing to Qin Gang’s absence, including his alleged relationship with a television host. The Chinese Communist Party has not provided detailed information about his absence.

Qin Gang, born in 1966, has had a long and influential career in the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has served in various capacities, including as China’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and as a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry. Known as a “Wolf Warrior” diplomat, Qin has defended China’s policies passionately. He played a significant role in organizing foreign affairs for President Xi Jinping and was considered a confidant.

During his time as China’s ambassador to the United States, Qin adopted a more conciliatory approach, seeking common ground to strengthen the relationship between the two countries. He also actively voiced China’s position on sensitive issues such as Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Despite his active presence on social media, Qin Gang’s prolonged absence from public view and the lack of detailed information from Chinese leaders continue to fuel speculation about the reasons behind his extended absence.