Chinese foreign minister QIn Gang (right) met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken last month, shortly before he vanished from public view. Photo: Foreign Ministry of China/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who hasn't been seen in public for a month, was removed from office on Tuesday, state media reported.
Why it matters: Qin's removal only seven months into the office has injected a dose of uncertainty in China's foreign policy circle.
Details: Qin's dismissal was announced at a meeting of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, a top decision-making body of China’s parliament. Beijing gave no reason for his removal.
- State media said Wang Yi, who had previously served as the foreign minister and is now President Xi Jinping's top foreign policy adviser, has replaced Qin.