The fourth meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress took place on July 25th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Through a vote, the meeting decided to relieve Qin Gang of his concurrent post as Foreign Minister, and Wang Yi was appointed as the Foreign Minister. As a result, Qin Gang has become the shortest-serving Foreign Minister in Chinese history.
On the same evening, photos and news footage of Qin Gang attending a State Council meeting in early June came to light. Qin, in these images, appears listless and poorly postured. Given his recent dismissal, these images have caught attention and are now being viewed under a new light.
According to previous reports by Xinhua News Agency, on June 9th, the State Council held its second themed study session. The session involved in-depth study and implementation of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important speeches and instructions on thematic education, combined with work and research over the past three months. Premier Li Qiang presided over the study, with speeches made by the Vice Premier and State Councillors.
The photographs released by Xinhua News Agency show Premier Li Qiang seated in the center, with several deputy premiers and state councillors diligently taking notes. However, Qin Gang, located in the lower left of the photograph, appears to be leaning against his chair, with documents seemingly placed on his lap, seemingly resting.
CCTV’s News Broadcast also reported on the meeting, with footage showing Qin Gang sitting improperly for a period of time, which contrasted starkly with other officials who had both hands on the table taking notes. In one scene, Qin Gang is seen propping his cheek with a fist.
However, it’s worth noting that the news broadcast also showed footage of Qin Gang speaking. He appeared to be spirited and showed no signs of abnormality, and in one scene, Qin Gang was shown diligently taking notes with his head lowered.