China has removed Qin Gang from his position as foreign minister, less than seven months after his appointment. The sudden and prolonged disappearance of the 57-year-old official, who was

considered a close associate of President Xi Jinping, sparked widespread speculation. Qin Gang's last known public engagements were on 25 June, and the authorities provided no explanation for his removal.

Wang Yi, the Communist Party foreign affairs chief, will take over the role of foreign minister. The appointment was approved by China's top legislature, and President Xi signed the decree authorizing the change. Qin Gang's absence had caused confusion and raised questions among both diplomatic circles and ordinary citizens, with speculations ranging from health issues to possible political reasons or personal matters.

Under the Chinese Communist Party system, the foreign policy is formulated by a high-level official, who then instructs the foreign minister to implement it. Wang Yi, who previously served as foreign minister from 2018 to 2022, will now resume the position. The secrecy surrounding Qin Gang's disappearance and the lack of official information fuelled discussions on China's internet, where such discussions are typically censored. The situation has drawn considerable attention in the country, with many searching for answers about the high-ranking official's sudden removal. Photo by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website – www.dfat.gov.au, Wikimedia commons.