China-watchers have been abuzz recently at the dismissal of Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister, and the status of the so-called wolf-warrior diplomats. In the background to recent events, and especially those involving the diplomats, are the changes that have taken place at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past few years. In the … Read more
Advertisement China has sacked Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, who has been out of public view for almost two months, state media reported Tuesday. No further information was given, including news about Li’s replacement. Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was removed from … Read more
Advertisement When China’s National People’s Congress convened in March, President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of stability and security. But half a year later, the removal of Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Defense Minister Li Shangfu, as well as a purge of senior military officials, have made Xi’s new government appear neither stable nor secure. … Read more
Advertisement There is an urban legend in China known colloquially as the “58-year old phenomenon.” It refers to a 58-year-old man, usually working in the public sector as a civil servant or official, on the cusp of official retirement at age 60, taking his final chance to reward himself financially through the auspices of his … Read more
Advertisement China removed outspoken Foreign Minister Qin Gang from office on Tuesday and replaced him with his predecessor, Wang Yi, in a move that has already fueled rumors over the personal lives and political rivalries of China’s Communist Party elite. In its announcement on the national evening news, state broadcaster CCTV gave no reason for … Read more
Advertisement The United States and China may be back to talking at a high level, but their battle for global power and influence remains unchecked and mutual suspicion still runs deep. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken set low goals for his visit to Beijing this week, and he met them. About the most the … Read more
Advertisement Yesterday, The Irrawaddy magazine published an article detailing the recent rise in anti-Chinese incidents in Myanmar, following the visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang to the country at the start of May. According to the report, Qin’s visit, the first by a top-level Chinese government official since the coup, was followed by spotfire … Read more
Advertisement Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Germany, France and Norway from May 8 to 12, meeting with his counterparts in each country. This trip came two weeks after Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had their first contact since Russia’s invasion. Xi’s call with Zelenskyy sits at the pinnacle of … Read more
Advertisement China’s foreign minister told the U.S. ambassador on Monday that Washington is responsible for the downturn in relations between the two countries and must “reflect deeply” before ties can return to a healthy track, an official said. Qin Gang’s comments follow a suspension of serious dialogue on a range of issues between the world’s … Read more
Advertisement China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang stopped in Myanmar on May 2, en route to India for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. In doing so, Qin further cemented Beijing’s willingness to work with the military regime that seized power via a coup in February 2021 – even though Myanmar has been wracked by … Read more