China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang Removed From Office After Month-Long Absence; Wang Yi To Assume Responsibilities

China's foreign minister, Qin Gang, was removed from office on Tuesday (25 July), as reported by state media, following his absence from the public eye for a month.

The decision came as the country's top legislature voted to appoint Wang Yi as the new foreign minister during a session on Tuesday, according to state media outlet Xinhua.

The state media report did not provide a specific reason for Qin Gang's removal but mentioned that President Xi Jinping signed a presidential order to enact the decision.

Qin had been considered a close confidant of President Xi, and many analysts believed that his rapid rise through the diplomatic ranks was linked to their relationship.

For weeks, China remained silent about Qin Gang's whereabouts and fate, as he had not been seen in public since 25 June when he met with Russia's deputy foreign minister, Andrey Rudenko, in Beijing.

His prolonged absence triggered widespread speculation about whether he had been relieved of his duties or was under official investigation.

During Qin's absence, China's top diplomat Wang Yi had assumed his responsibilities.

Wang Yi is in charge of the ruling Communist Party's foreign policy and holds a higher rank in the government hierarchy than Qin. Notably, Qin had taken over as foreign minister in December of the previous year, succeeding Wang Yi in the role.

The removal of Qin Gang from the position of foreign minister has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his departure, but official details have not been disclosed.