CHINESE Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from his post after just seven months in the job on Tuesday, bringing an end to weeks of confusion after the 57-year-old once seen as close to President Xi Jinping disappeared from public view.
Qin, 57, became one of the country's youngest foreign ministers on his appointment in December 2022 after a brief stint as U.S. ambassador, enjoying a meteoric rise to the top that analysts partly attributed to his closeness to Xi.
He was replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi, 69.
Born in the northern city of Tianjin in 1966, Qin studied International Politics at one of China's most prestigious schools for aspiring diplomats, the University of International Relations in Beijing.
After graduating, Qin entered the diplomatic service, working in several jobs at the foreign ministry as well as postings at the Chinese Embassy in Britain.
Qin was twice foreign ministry spokesman, between 2006 and 2014, and chief protocol officer between 2014 and 2018, overseeing many of Xi's interactions with foreign leaders.
As ministry spokesman, he stood out for being one of the first diplomats to speak aggressively in defence of China's increasingly assertive foreign policy, a style that became known as "wolf warrior" diplomacy.
But he also displayed willingness to work with the United States, declaring upon his arrival in Washington as ambassador in July 2021, after a period of unusual public vitriol between U.S. and Chinese officials, that relations held "great opportunities and potential".
Relations between the two big powers did not markedly improve during his time as ambassador, or afterwards, however. The two sides have been often at odds over issues including trade, technology, and the self-ruled, democratic island of Taiwan, which Beijing claims and Washington supports.
Qin, who analysts said was likely to have been appointed foreign minister to help stabilise relations with the U.S., held a 5-1/2 hour meeting and a dinner with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in June in talks that both sides called candid and constructive.
A few days later, on June 25, he held talks with officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam in Beijing but then began an unexplained public absence.
His ministry said on July 11 he was unable to attend a meeting in Indonesia for unspecified "health reasons". It declined any further comment on his status, creating an information vacuum in which rumours swirled.
Wang, who was promoted to the politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, one of China's top leadership bodies, filled in for him during his absence.
Qin, who is married with one son, visited various countries as foreign minister including several in Africa in January and in Europe in May where he pushed China's call for a ceasefire in Ukraine, a tough sell given that China has been criticised for not condemning Russia's invasion.
After becoming foreign minister, Qin's comments on hot button issues such as Taiwan and China's relations with Russia did not diverge in any significant way from those of his predecessor.
In his first comments as foreign minister, Qin said in solving challenges common to all mankind, China's diplomacy would offer "Chinese wisdom, Chinese initiatives and Chinese strength".
In an essay published in American bi-monthly magazine the National Interest late last year, Qin gave an overview of China's foreign policy and reiterated that China-U.S. relations were not a "zero-sum game" with one side gaining at the expense of the other.
Reuters
Wed Jul 26 2023
Qin Gang became one of the country's youngest foreign ministers on his appointment in December 2022 after a brief stint as U.S. ambassador. - REUTERS/Filepic
Amang seksual: Inspektor polis akan ditahan kerja
Pegawai polis berpangkat inspektor yang ditahan selepas disyaki melakukan amang seksual fizikal terhadap seorang remaja dikenakan tindakan tahan kerja.
Sultan Terengganu kurnia darjah kebesaran kepada 104 individu
Sultan Terengganu berkenan mengurniakan Bintang-bintang Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman kepada 104 individu di Istana Syarqiyyah, hari ini.
WEF: Piawaian ekonomi mampan harus adil, saksama kepada negara membangun - Tengku Zafrul
Transisi ke arah ekonomi yang mampan harus dilaksanakna secara saksama dan adil, kata Menteri Perdagangam Pelaburan dan Industri Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Raja Permaisuri Agong santuni keluarga Mohammad Amirulfaris
Raja Permaisuri Agong berkenan menyantuni keluarga Allahyarham Mohammad Amirulfaris yang terkorban dalam tragedi dua helikopter terhempas di Lumut.
Polis rampas dadah lebih RM2.3 juta, lelaki tempatan ditahan
Polis Johor merampas dadah bernilai lebih RM2.3 juta dalam dua serbuan berasingan di sekitar kawasan Johor Bahru Selatan pada Rabu lalu.
Jalani tempoh perkenalan singkat, warga emas 78 tahun teruja bertemu jodoh semula
"Kami diperkenalkan oleh kawan anak. Pertemuan pertama kami, dia pandang saya dia dah berkenan."
Waspada ejen nikah Siam
Konsulat Malaysia di Songkhla, Ahmad Fahmi Ahmad Sarkawi menasihat rakyat Malaysia yang ingin berkahwin di Selatan Thailand supaya waspada dalam pemilihan ejen.
Twincity Marathon rai golongan OKU
Perbezaan fizikal tidak melunturkan semangat golongan orang kurang upaya (OKU) untuk menyertai acara larian Twincity Marathon sejauh lima kilometer (km) di Cyberjaya hari ini.
Bersatu serah notis kepada enam ahli Parlimen selepas PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu - Hamzah
Bersatu akan mengeluarkan notis berhubung status kedudukan enam ahli Parlimennya yang menyokong Perdana Menteri selepas PRK Kuala Kubu Bharu.
Kemarau: Beting pasir seluas padang bola timbul di Sungai Kelantan
Beting pasir tersebut mula kelihatan sejak pertengahan Ramadan lepas dan saiznya semakin besar dari sehari ke sehari.
Menteri Luar China Qin Gang dipecat - Laporan
Menteri Luar China Qin Gang dikatakan telah dilucutkan daripada jawatannya dalam satu undian oleh Jawatankuasa Tetap Kongres Rakyat Kebangsaan.
China, AS capai kesepakatan dalam lima perkara
Dasar China terhadap Amerika Syarikat (AS) kekal konsisten dan stabil dengan berpandukan prinsip saling menghormati, hidup bersama secara aman dan kerjasama yang memberikan situasi sama menang.
Dunia disaran sokong penyelesaian isu Myanmar menerusi dialog politik
Masyarakat antarabangsa disaran menghormati kedaulatan Myanmar, dan menyokong semua pihak di Myanmar meleraikan perselisihan serta meneruskan proses peralihan politik melalui dialog politik.
Hubungan Malaysia, China akan ditingkat ke tahap lebih tinggi
Malaysia dan China membawa hubungan dua hala sedia ada ke tahap yang lebih tinggi.
China, Malaysia perkukuh kerjasama dan persahabatan
Selaku negara membangun dan ekonomi baru muncul yang penting di Asia, China dan Malaysia harus membentuk sinergi kukuh untuk melawan segala risiko serta cabaran.