Mystery over missing Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang takes toll on country’s international image
- Beijing has been unable to damp down speculation as sceptics question official line that unspecified health problems are the cause of his prolonged absence
- Secrecy is fuelling doubts about the country’s political system, diplomatic observers say, as foreign policy chief Wang Yi covers for Qin’s absence
It is the high season for Chinese diplomacy – with past and present world leaders visiting Beijing over the past month – but the country’s foreign minister has been conspicuously absent.
Qin Gang, supposedly the face of the country, has been out of the public view since June 25, missing important events such as a regional gathering of foreign ministers in Indonesia and a number of visits by senior American figures.
The prolonged absence of Qin, who was hand-picked by President Xi Jinping for the job just seven months ago, appears to be a huge embarrassment for China, diplomatic observers said.
They also warned that Beijing’s inability to shed the secrecy surrounding his disappearance has also raised many questions about China’s opaque decision-making.
Yun Sun, director of the China programme at the Stimson Centre in Washington, said Beijing’s terse explanation is unconvincing.
“It appears that Beijing’s message is becoming more focused – that Qin has health issues,” she said. “Few believe it, but for China having an explanation that sticks and that it can stick to is important.”