Former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who “disappeared” for a month last year before being dismissed, has reportedly been reassigned to a lower-level position at a publishing house under the supervision of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This latest development, however, has not been officially confirmed by the Chinese authorities, adding to the speculation surrounding Qin Gang’s whereabouts.
According to a report by The Washington Post on September 8, two former US officials revealed that Qin Gang has been placed in a low-level position at the World Knowledge Publishing House under the supervision of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at least according to “publicly available information.”
The publishing house is located in a small alley in downtown Beijing and features a bookstore open to the public. The bookstore, a small room filled with memoirs of Chinese diplomats and books by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was visited by a reporter from The Washington Post who found that the staff was unaware of Qin Gang’s employment at the publishing house.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not responded to The Washington Post’s request for comment.
The Washington Post suggests that Qin Gang has managed to overcome his predicament. His reassignment is seen not just as a punishment, but also as a warning to others within the Chinese political system.
Chris Johnson, a former senior China analyst at the CIA and current head of the China Strategies Group, stated that Qin Gang’s rapid rise had irritated his colleagues, who believed he had surpassed them. Qin Gang is not the first Chinese diplomat to be demoted to work at a publishing house under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The handling of Qin Gang’s situation is seen as a result of power struggles within the Chinese diplomatic system, with President Xi Jinping’s influence playing a significant role. It is believed that Qin Gang’s fate remains uncertain, and the lack of transparency in the Chinese government’s actions adds to the intrigue surrounding his circumstances.
The reassignment of Qin Gang to a lower-level position at the publishing house under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seen by experts as a typical example of the opaque and secretive nature of the Chinese Communist Party’s internal operations. The unconventional handling of high-ranking officials like Qin Gang serves as a reminder of the party’s iron grip on power and its ability to enforce discipline within its ranks.
As Qin Gang’s future remains uncertain, analysts and experts can only speculate on the motives behind his reassignment and the implications it carries within the Chinese political landscape. The secrecy surrounding Qin Gang’s reassignment highlights the complexities and uncertainties inherent in the opaque workings of the Chinese Communist Party.