China’s former foreign minister Qin Gang, who was abruptly removed from office last year and has not been seen in public since, has resigned as a lawmaker, according to state media.
Qin’s resignation as a representative for the port city of Tianjin to China’s 14th National People’s Congress was accepted on Tuesday, state news agency Xinhua said.
The former foreign minister was removed after just 207 days in the job last July without explanation.
He was replaced by Wang Yi, a veteran diplomat who served as foreign minister before Qin and who outranked him in the Chinese government hierarchy.
Qin was then removed from China’s cabinet, the State Council, in October.
Seven months on, Beijing has still not offered any explanation for Qin’s dismissal, nor why he has not been seen in public since then.
China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, is due to sit for its annual session next week.
Dateline:
Beijing, China
Type of Story: News Service
Produced externally by an organization we trust to adhere to high journalistic standards.
Support HKFP | Policies & Ethics | Error/typo? | Contact Us | Newsletter | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps
Help safeguard press freedom & keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team
LATEST FROM HKFP
HKFP has an impartial stance, transparent funding, and balanced coverage guided by an Ethics Code and Corrections Policy.
Support press freedom & help us surpass 1,000 monthly Patrons: 100% independent, governed by an ethics code & not-for-profit.
