Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister, has been out of the public eye for three weeks, an unusually long time of absence amid a moment of intense diplomacy in Beijing. In a country where political activities are notoriously opaque, Qin’s disappearance has sparked widespread suspicion. Qin, a seasoned diplomat and trusted advisor to Chinese President Xi Jinping, was appointed foreign minister in December after serving briefly as ambassador to the United States.
Qin, as foreign minister, has sharply criticized Washington over the downing of a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon in the United States. He has also played an important part in subsequent efforts by both sides to restore contact and stabilize relations, including a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Beijing last month.
Qin’s noticeable absence has been attributed to “health reasons” by Beijing. However, in the past, senior Chinese officials have vanished from public view, only to be disclosed to the world by the ruling Communist Party’s disciplinary body. Such abrupt disappearances have become a recurring theme in Chinese President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.
When was the last time Qin Gang was seen?
Since June 25, the 57-year-old has not been seen in public. His most recent stated involvement was a multilateral meeting in Beijing in the immediate hours after the uprising by Wagner mercenary group with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Russia.
Why is Qin Gang’s absence unusual?
This is because there has been a flurry of diplomatic contacts in and outside of China that have a direct and precise influence on Beijing’s interests. Senior US leaders such as Janet Yellen and John Kerry have made high-profile visits.
Is Qin Gang still missing? Engagements that had been scheduled were canceled
Qin was due to meet with European Union foreign policy leader Joseph Borrell in Beijing earlier this month. According to Reuters, the conference was postponed after China told the European Union that the initially agreed dates were no longer practicable. The European Union was alerted of the delay just two days before Borrell was scheduled to arrive on July 5. Furthermore, Qin did not attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) annual foreign ministers conference in Jakarta last week. Instead, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi represented the country at the gathering.