Nearly three months after his last public appearance, it is becoming increasingly clear what caused the fall of former Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang. The rumors about a possible affair surfaced more and more often and are now confirmed by sources The Wall Street Journal. According to the newspaper, an internal investigation by the Chinese Communist Party found that Qin had an extramarital relationship while working as ambassador to the United States from July 2021 to January this year. A child was also reportedly born from that affair.
Based on various sources, the American newspaper writes that senior Chinese officials were informed last month about the party investigation into Qin, who had been foreign minister since January. The formal reason for his dismissal is “lifestyle issues”, a euphemism the party often uses to describe what it sees as sexual misconduct. This reason is then used to discredit officials in whom the party has lost confidence.
The names of the woman and child in question have not been released. However, the sources say otherwise The Wall Street Journal that his child’s American identity undermined Qin’s ability to represent Chinese interests in the United States.
Confidant of the President
The suspicious disappearance of 57-year-old Qin – who was last seen in Beijing on June 25 at a meeting with representatives of Russia, Vietnam and Sri Lanka – was initially blamed on unspecified health complaints. At the end of July, Qin was removed from his position without any further explanation, a move that only further fueled speculation. His successor is his former boss and predecessor Wang Yi, who immediately replaced him during diplomatic meetings in Jakarta and Johannesburg.
Qin’s fall is striking because he previously made an impressively rapid climb up the ladder of the Chinese government apparatus and the Communist Party, becoming a confidant of President Xi Jinping. He started as a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then was responsible for organizing Xi’s international trips, often accompanying the president.
Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu also disappeared earlier this month. He was unable to attend a meeting with Vietnamese military officials for “health reasons.” Unrest in such high political circles “could indicate political instability in China at a time when stability is desired due to the economic slowdown,” Yun Sun, the director of the Stimson Center think tank’s China program, told The Wall Street Journal.
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