Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has not been seen in public since June 25, as of Tuesday, missing critical engagements with American officials, a major regional summit, and fueling rumors of his political demise.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry refused to comment on his disappearance on Monday when asked. Prior to this week, the Foreign Ministry, through a spokesman, explained Qin’s absence at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit last week as necessary due to “physical reasons,” without elaborating. In addition to not being seen in public, Qin has also not issued any public statements since that day, nor has the Chinese Communist Party mentioned him participating in any official business.
The lack of information has resulted in a flurry of rumors ranging from a serious Wuhan coronavirus infection to an embarrassing extramarital affair with one of…
