By Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, July 20: Chinese foreign minister, Qin Gang’s prolonged absence from public appearances for over three weeks has sparked speculations and concerns both domestically and internationally. The Chinese government’s lack of transparency has contributed to various rumours ranging from the Qin Gang facing repercussions due to alleged extramarital affairs to health issues linked to his absence.
Given Qin Gang’s high profile title as China’s foreign minister and his description as President Xi Jinping’s most trusted aide, his absence from public engagements since June 25 during important meetings with officials from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Russia in Beijing became highly notable.
As of July 18, 2023, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s response to inquiries about the prolonged absence of Foreign Minister Qin Gang has remained vague and non-committal. During a press briefing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman stated that she had “no information to provide” regarding Qin Gang’s whereabouts or the reasons behind his disappearance. The spokesperson further asserted that China’s diplomatic activities are continuing as usual, without offering any additional details or clarification.
The situation has drawn attention from experts and commentators with Deng Yuwen; a former editor of the Communist Party newspaper who now resides in the US highlighted the unusual nature of China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang’s prolonged absence from public appearances, stating, “This is a problem for totalitarian regimes. Totalitarian regimes are inherently unstable because everything is decided by the supreme leader alone.”
“If anything unusual happened to a senior official, people will wonder if their relations with the top leader have soured or whether it is a sign of political instability,” Deng noted.
The sudden disappearance and later disclosure of detention of senior Chinese officials are characteristic features of Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. The campaign is aimed at consolidating the party’s control and discipline over its members. The key aspect of the campaign is the secrecy surrounding investigations, where the government does not provide any immediate explanation for their absence. The information is carefully managed and released by the Party’s disciplinary watchdog at a letter stage, contributing to the lack of transparency and secrecy within China’s political landscape.
