Where is Qin Gang? Many rumors continue to surround the disappearance of one of the rising political stars in China; one of President Xi Jinping's proteges, who appointed him as Foreign Minister after sending him to the United States as ambassador during a time of special friction with Washington.
Although it has been one of the biggest political soap operas in recent years in the Asian giant, the Chinese press continues to embrace its usual exercise of silence. Within the regime, no one asks or investigates what happened to one of the strong men of the omnipresent Communist Party (CPC).
Beijing usually does not provide explanations whenever a high-ranking official disappears. At home, no one demands any explanation. This extreme opacity sparked greater interest abroad and led to the construction of all kinds of theories. First, it was said that Qin (58 years old) had fallen ill. Then, that he had been purged amid a power struggle within the CPC leadership. There were even talks of torture or suicide. Although the rumor that gained more strength was a scandal with a television presenter, including a child.
The last time Qin was seen was on June 25, 2023, when he held talks with his counterparts from Russia, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam. Two months later, Beijing announced his dismissal as minister. However, he still held his position as State Councilor, a much more influential role as part of the super-elite within the CPC. It was not until this summer that his name was also removed from that exclusive list.
Some U.S. media outlets, such as The Wall Street Journal, said that Qin was being investigated because his behavior (having allegedly had a journalist lover during his tenure as ambassador to the U.S.) could have compromised national security. The newspaper Politico, citing anonymous sources, reported that Qin had died "either by suicide or torture" in a military hospital in Beijing.
A week ago, The Washington Post reported that Qin is alive and that they had discovered his whereabouts after being purged: the former minister had been demoted to the point where he is now working in an editorial, World Affairs Press, affiliated with the Government. A couple of days after the news was published, a Hong Kong newspaper confirmed that, after a conversation with the editorial heads, they had confirmed that an employee named Qin Gang was among their staff.
The purged politician became one of the youngest Foreign Ministers by surprise with his appointment in December 2022 after a brief period as ambassador to the U.S. Analysts agree that Qin's rise was partly due to his closeness to Xi, whom he accompanied on many international trips when he worked as one of his closest advisors.
In his early days at the Ministry, the most veteran correspondents living in Beijing remember the less friendly side of Qin: a loud spokesperson who appeared every day at a press conference with prearranged questions to defend China and criticize the West. Qin was one of the first wolf warriors, the fervent warriors of Chinese diplomacy.