World

Is Wang Yi’s re-appointment as foreign minister in place of Qin Gang a stopgap arrangement?

China has  replaced its foreign minister Qin Gang with veteran diplomat Wang Yi—a move that has surprised many.

While speculation was swirling about Qin’s fate, who had disappeared from public view since June 25, Wang’s appointment was not on expected lines.

In fact, Wang, a former foreign minister had been elevated to the rank director of the foreign affairs commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

It is likely that Wang’s appointment as foreign minister is a stop gap arrangement till the time a fresh appointment for the post can be made.

Qin’s absence became conspicuous when he missed out on the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting 2023 last week, and had been replaced by Wang.

So far there has not been any convincing response from the Chinese establishment explaining foreign Minister Qin’s public absence.

Rumours say that Qin has been punished because of his alleged affair with Phoenix TV personality Fu Xiaotian, with whom he apparently has a child. Fu has also not been heard off since April 10, after she posted from a Gulfstream Jet in Los Angeles, which was apparently flying to Beijing.

There is also a theory that Qin has had a health issue, which could be Covid, a heart attack or a stroke. But if that had been the case, his convalescing pictures should have appeared on official platforms.

Ahead of Wang’s appointment, speculation was rife about possible candidates for the foreign minister’s post.

The name of Liu Jianchao, now head of the communist party’s international liaison department was in circulation. A Central Committee member, Liu has loads of experience in the Chinese foreign ministry,

Two other names being speculated included Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, though officially he is not in the same league as Qin. Unlike Qin, he is neither a full central committee member nor is he an alternate Central Committee member.
Another name making the rounds was Minister Qi Yu. Qi is the Party Secretary of the Foreign Ministry as well as a full central committee member.

The Central Committee is the core from where the more powerful 25-member Politburo is drawn. A seven-member standing committee of the Politburo comprises China’s top leadership.

Also Read: Is China having a problem with its elite rocket forces?

Atul Aneja

Atul Aneja writes on international geopolitical trends focusing on China, Eurasia and the Indo-Pacific

Recent Posts

EAM Jaishankar to visit US from December 24-29

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the US from December 24-29 to discuss key…

9 minutes ago

Balochistan: Medical students protest campus closure, security crackdown

Students at the Bolan Medical College (BMC) in Balochistan's Quetta entered the 27th day of…

1 hour ago

Climate change, health risks escalate amid surge in PoGB deforestation

The intensifying cutting of trees for firewood in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) is not only worsening…

2 hours ago

India’s retired judges, bureaucrats call for “immediate end” to attacks on minorities in open letter to Bangladesh

A group of retired judges, bureaucrats, Army officials and other civil society members have penned…

3 hours ago

Israel, Slovakia sign historic USD 582 million deal to boost Air Defense capabilities

Israel and Slovakia signed a 2 billion shekel (USD 582 million) agreement on Monday to…

3 hours ago

Pakistan: Protests continue in Kurram over road closures amid crisis

Protests against the prolonged road closures in Kurram persisted on Sunday, as residents held a…

4 hours ago