China Sacked Ex-Foreign Minister Qin Gang Over Alleged Affair: Report

Beijing: China's former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was reportedly removed from his position due to an alleged extramarital affair. As per a report by the Wall Street Journal, the former minister allegedly had an affair and also fathered a child during his tenure as the Chinese Ambassador to the United States.

The report adds that an investigation is underway to ascertain what exactly happened and if Gang made China less safe in terms of its national security due to his alleged actions. As per WSJ, the former foreign minister is cooperating with the investigation.

According to rumours and reports from overseas Chinese media, there are allegations that Qin Gang had an affair with a TV journalist and host named Fu Xiaotian, who is associated with Phoenix TV, based in Hong Kong. These rumours also suggest that Qin may have fathered a child with Fu, who is a U.S. citizen. However, it's important to note that China has not officially confirmed or denied these rumours. There is also a possibility that Qin might be absent due to health issues or illness.

Gang had been missing for nearly a month, and there has been no official explanation from Beijing regarding his sudden disappearance. Qin, who is 57 years old, became Foreign Minister in December 2022, following his time as China's Ambassador to the United States. His rise in the ranks of the Chinese government was reportedly supported by President Xi Jinping.

The last time Qin Gang was seen in public was on June 25, 2023, when he held meetings with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Russia in Beijing. Prior to that, he actively participated in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit 2023, which took place in New Delhi, India.

During a regular press briefing on Tuesday, China foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning was asked about the article and said, "On the appointment and removal of the Chinese foreign minister, the Chinese side has released information before, and I am not aware of the other information you mentioned", as per a Reuters report.