Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s “disappearance” for nearly a month continues to stir speculation, despite the Chinese central government’s attempts to maintain calm. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially stated that Qin Gang was absent from his diplomatic engagements due to illness but has since refrained from providing further information, fueling intense rumors and conjectures from the public.
Before his absence, Qin Gang had a busy diplomatic schedule. In June, he met with the Secretary-General of the International Civil Aviation Organization in Beijing, attended the opening ceremony of the Honduran Embassy in China alongside the Honduran Foreign Minister, and received the Palestinian Foreign Minister during his visit to China. He also had a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing on June 18. Qin Gang’s last public appearance was on June 25 when he met with foreign ministers from Sri Lanka, Russia, Vietnam, and other countries in Beijing.
For over three weeks, the only official message about Qin Gang came on July 11, when Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin revealed that Qin Gang could not attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings due to health reasons. However, no further updates regarding his health were given. Hong Kong media also reported that Qin Gang had tested positive for COVID-19 on July 10. Despite this, he continued to be absent from subsequent diplomatic activities, leaving the public with various speculations about his whereabouts.
In Qin Gang’s absence, it is apparent that Foreign Minister Wang Yi has been standing in for him at several significant diplomatic events. Wang Yi attended the ASEAN meetings in Jakarta last week, engaging with foreign ministers from ASEAN countries, as well as the United States, Russia, and Japan. He also accompanied Chinese leaders during meetings with foreign dignitaries, including a meeting with U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry on Monday and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on Wednesday.
Moreover, it has been confirmed that Wang Yi will represent China at the 13th BRICS National Security Advisors’ Meeting in Johannesburg at the end of the month and will visit South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Turkey, hinting that Qin Gang’s return is still uncertain.
As Qin Gang’s disappearance in the public eye continues, the possibility of his absence being due to health reasons diminishes. On July 14, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin remained silent for about 16 seconds during a press conference, possibly consulting documents before responding, “I have already provided relevant information before. Next question.” On July 17, another Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Hua Chunying, stated that there was no information to disclose. On July 19, Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Cui Tiankai, when asked about Qin Gang’s whereabouts during the Aspen Security Forum, simply replied, “Let’s wait and see.” It is clear that at present, the public can only wait for official updates, as officials have not disclosed further information.
The sudden disappearance of high-ranking officials in China and their absence from official reports for a period is not uncommon. For example, before Xi Jinping took office in 2012 (when he was Vice President), he disappeared for two weeks and missed a meeting with then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Chinese authorities never explained this. Another well-known example is Wang Qishan, who, during his tenure as the Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, also disappeared for several days on multiple occasions, and afterward, significant political earthquakes occurred in the government, leading to the downfall of prominent figures.
However, until now, it cannot be completely ruled out that Qin Gang’s absence is due to health reasons, as there are many possibilities, including sudden illness and others. If this is the case, the lack of further information from the authorities aligns with their consistent practice of maintaining secrecy surrounding the health of high-ranking officials. For instance, during the recent pandemic that lasted for over three years, no information about any officials testing positive for COVID-19 was disclosed, and even the specific Chinese vaccine administered to the leaders was not made public.
Nevertheless, the intense speculation surrounding the “health issue” of high-ranking officials is due to the fact that, in China’s political context, such matters are often associated with potential political changes. Qin Gang, who is 57 years old, has been highly regarded and promoted in recent years. With a background in diplomacy, he briefly served as the Chinese Ambassador to the United States and was appointed Foreign Minister at the end of last year, becoming the youngest foreign minister since China’s reform and opening-up era. Prior to his promotion, he must have undergone a rigorous examination of his health and political situation. Therefore, a sudden and extended absence due to a significant health issue is rare.
As speculations about his health, rumors, and espionage accusations continue to circulate, it becomes essential for China to address the “whereabouts of the Foreign Minister.” The statement “no further information can be provided” cannot stem the tide of rumors. It is essential not to let the Foreign Minister’s “disappearance” become a mere afterthought. Silence could potentially harm the country’s image.