Beijing, July 26, 2023 - Qin Gang, China's Foreign Minister, who has been absent from the public eye for nearly a month, has been removed from office and replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi, according to an announcement by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC). The sudden convening of a special meeting with short notice has led to speculation surrounding Qin's mysterious disappearance. However, the authorities have not disclosed the reasons behind his dismissal. Qin Gang, a former protege of President Xi Jinping, had experienced a rapid rise within the Chinese Communist party, earning a reputation as a "wolf warrior" diplomat. He became China's Foreign Minister in December, replacing more senior cadres. However, his term as Foreign Minister lasted only seven months, making it the shortest in history.

While Qin's dismissal remains unexplained, there have been rumors suggesting a power struggle with Wang Yi or an alleged affair with a TV anchor as possible reasons. Some comments and references to his disappearance have been censored or removed from Chinese social media and media outlets. The 57-year-old diplomat's last public appearance was in June during a meeting with the Sri Lankan foreign minister in Beijing. His absence during recent high-profile visits by US treasury secretary Janet Yellen and US climate envoy John Kerry raised further questions. Qin Gang will continue to serve on the State Council, China's top administrative body, without a specific portfolio. The move has led experts to speculate about an ongoing investigation into his activities as Foreign Minister, suggesting that although he remains politically protected, there are sufficient concerns to warrant his removal from his ministerial position. The return of Wang Yi as Foreign Minister has raised questions about whether this appointment is a transitional arrangement until a permanent replacement is announced. The uncertainty surrounding China's frontline foreign policy implementation may affect the country's international outreach. As authorities provide no official explanation for Qin Gang's dismissal, many observers have grown skeptical about the health reasons initially cited. The absence of clarity surrounding the situation has led to more questions than answers, highlighting the opacity and unpredictability of China's current political system.

Foreign Minister Qin's removal came as part of a hastily-called meeting by the NPCSC, and with the appointment of Pan Gongsheng as governor of the central bank, the agenda featured two items - a non-urgent amendment to the criminal law and "a decision on official appointments and removal." The international community, including US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has taken note of the abrupt change in leadership and expressed a willingness to work with Qin's replacement in managing the relationship with China responsibly. As the situation unfolds, observers await further developments and an official explanation for Qin Gang's removal from his ministerial position.