Follow CGSP on Social Media

Listen to the CGSP Podcast

What Happened to Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang?

by Eric Olander
Screenshot of a video featuring then Chinese ambassador to the United States and current Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, with Phoenix News reporter Fu Xiaotian who, according to online rumors, had a child following an affair.

It’s been three weeks since Qin Gang was last seen in public, sparking a wave of rumors (many emanating from Taiwan) that the Chinese Foreign Minister has been benched for allegedly having an affair with Phoenix News TV journalist Fu Xiaotian.

Initially, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed Qin’s absence to “health reasons” but then seemingly backed away from that line after officials scrubbed the press briefing summaries of any reference to questions about Qin’s disappearance.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest China-Africa news and analysis.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China-Africa relations.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in Africa and throughout the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More

You Might Like

China’s Newest Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Makes Her Debut

China’s Foreign Ministry’s spokespeople have the tricky job of being the human faces of a frequently opaque system. So China nerds were a-Twitter this week following the debut of Mao Ning, ...

China’s Wolf Warrior Defanged

China’s most prominent Wolf Warrior diplomat, Zhao Lijian, has been moved from his previous position as Foreign Ministry spokesperson to a new post as Deputy Director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs. ...

The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe Takes Aim at Remarks by Washington’s Ambassador-Designate to Harare

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe published a blistering response to comments made by U.S. Ambassador-designate Pamela Tremont during her Senate confirmation hearings last week in Washington, D.C. During questioning, Tremont was pressed by ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.