Mystery development with now-former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang
Mystery development with now-former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang
This is a DW News report on Qin Gang’s removal as the Foreign Minister of China.1
Qin had issued a seemingly conciliatory article on US-China relations upon taking the Foreign Ministry position.2
It may not be directly related to his ouster as Foreign Minister. But earlier this month, in his first press conference as Foreign Minister, he took a highly critical position toward the US and also took what appeared to be a harder pro-Russian line on the Russia-Ukraine War.3
Also, from DW News, the Chinese government is signaling displeasure at Russia’s failure to renew the wartime grain exportation deal with Ukraine. A reminder that it’s not just on the Ukrainian side of the war that allies have diverging interests.4
Aljazeera reports on Qin Gang5:
At the age of 57, he became in December 2022 one of the youngest officials to be named foreign minister, after serving as ambassador to the United States for two years.
“Qin managed to achieve in years what would have taken other officials decades,” Yu said from Beijing.
As ministry spokesman, he stood out for being one of the first diplomats to speak aggressively in defence of China’s increasingly assertive foreign policy, a style that became known as “wolf warrior” diplomacy.
How will China's foreign policy change after the removal of Qin Gang as minister? DW News YouTube channel 07/25/2023. (Accessed: 26-07-2023).
Miller, Bruce (2023): New Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his article in "The National Interest" on Chinese foreign policy. Bruce's Contradicciones Newsletter 07/03/2023. (Accessed: 26-07-2023).
Miller, Bruce (2023): Chinese Foreign Minister gets a bit caustic about US policies on China and Ukraine. Bruce's Contradicciones Newsletter 01/03/2023. (Accessed: 26-07-2023).
Will Beijing's call for 'cooperation' pressure Russia into a new black sea grain deal? DW News YouTube channel 07/25/2023. (Accessed: 26-07-2023).
Wang Yi replaces Qin Gang as Chinese FM: What to know. Aljazeera 07/25/2023. <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/25/wang-yi-replaces-qin-gang-as-chinese-foreign-minister-what-to-know> (Accessed: 26-07-2023).