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Diplomacy
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Ex-Chinese FM Qin Gang loses seat at party top table but may escape punishment

  • Language used to announce Qin’s departure from Central Committee suggests he is not facing criminal charges

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Former Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang was seen in public in June 2023. Photo: AP
Shi Jiangtao
Qin Gang, China’s former foreign minister who disappeared from public view more than a year ago, has lost his seat as a member of the elite Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party.
The decision to remove Qin from the party’s inner circle was made at the four-day meeting of the third plenary session and followed a resignation application from Qin, according to a communique from the meeting.

The statement referred to Qin as “comrade”, suggesting he is not under criminal investigation and still is a party member.

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There continues to be much speculation about the fate of Qin, China’s shortest-serving foreign minister, whose disappearance the foreign ministry attributed to “health reasons”.

Once seen as a trusted aide to President Xi Jinping, Qin rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming ambassador to the United States in July 2021, and 17 months later was elevated to foreign minister, the No 2 position in China’s diplomatic apparatus.

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The 58-year-old was ousted as foreign minister at a special session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee in July last year, just seven months after being promoted by Xi.

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