Qin Gang’s Resignation As Foreign Minister Has Left China Red-faced
Qin Gang’s resignation as Foreign Minister has left China red-faced.
As speculation swirls around the removal of China’s foreign minister, questions have arisen about what his demise implies for China’s diplomacy.
Following weeks of inexplicable absence, Mr Qin was decisively rooted out by the Chinese leadership this week, with all mention of him removed from the foreign ministry website.
According to analysts, while this incident is unlikely to have a significant influence on foreign ties, it has left Beijing red-faced.
Despite his “wolf warrior” reputation, Mr Qin demonstrated a softer side. This was especially evident during his time as ambassador to the United States.
He advocated not only for a more nuanced relationship between the two superpowers.
But he also famously shot hoops at NBA games and threw pitches at baseball games, seducing Americans in one of their native languages – sport.
Some saw his selection as foreign minister last December as a sign that Beijing was softening its image by putting more even-tempered personalities to the frontlines of its diplomatic corps.
However, while Mr Qin helped to convey a more moderate picture of China to the world, he had little influence over the country’s actual foreign policy.
While he was foreign minister, he had to report to Wang Yi, the chairman of the Communist Party’s foreign affairs commission and the senior diplomatic position in China’s party-centric political structure.
Qin Gang’s resignation: Mr Wang has now taken over Mr Qin’s position.
Finally, both were forced to follow their president’s political ideological playbook.
“Xi handpicked Qin Gang to serve as the chief implementer of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, not to make foreign policy,” according to the statement.
Neil Thomas, a China policy researcher at the Asian Institute of Social Policy, told the media. “It is Xi and those around him who make the decisions. important foreign policy.”
Mr Wang is now quickly assuming his prior role while continuing to hold his current post.
With the senior diplomat completely in charge, Beijing appears eager to establish continuity and reassure the international community that it is still business as usual.
Mr Wang is a well-known international figure, having been in charge of several of China’s recent international charm offensives on significant matters such as the Ukraine crisis.
Analysts believe he will prioritize restoring the US-China relationship after months of antagonism, with Mr Xi’s probable November visit to the US being a primary priority.
Some have also mentioned his experience as the previous director of the Taiwan Affairs Office in handling cross-strait ties, which would be critical as the Taiwan presidential elections, which are traditionally a source of friction between Taipei and Beijing, loom ahead in January 2024.
While Mr Wang is seen as a safe set of hands, his tenure as foreign minister is uncertain. Many believe he is merely a stand-in as Mr Xi searches for someone to relieve Mr Wang’s workload.
