BEIJING: An unusually long absence from public appearances has triggered speculation about Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s whereabouts, reported German news agency (dpa).
The 57-year-old, who took office in March, last made public appearances at official events on June 25, when he received Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko in Beijing. The Beijing Foreign Ministry at the time published a photo of the meeting. Qin Gang has not been seen since.
China cancelled a meeting of the minister with EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell in Beijing, planned for July 10, only a few days before it was due to take place. No reason was given.
Qin also did not attend a summit meeting of foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last week. Instead, China’s top diplomat Wang Yi, who is above Qin in China’s power hierarchy, travelled to the meeting.
Asked last Thursday why Qin was not attending the ASEAN meeting, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson replied that this was not possible for health reasons. Asked again on Monday about the long absence, a ministry spokeswoman said she had “no information” on the subject.
Qin was ambassador to Washington before his appointment as foreign minister. Before that, he was vice foreign minister and chief of protocol for state and party leader Xi Jinping from 2014 to 2017.
He is considered a nationalist hardliner, but he appeared less confrontational as ambassador to the US than he had been before his appointment to the role. – BERNAMA-dpa
