China's Shocking Move: Minister's Sudden Removal Linked to a High-Profile Scandal

China's Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the Wall Street Journal's report regarding the removal of former foreign minister Qin Gang due to an alleged extramarital affair. The report stated that a Communist Party investigation found Qin to have engaged in the affair while serving as China's envoy to Washington.

Qin, a career diplomat and trusted aide of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, was unexpectedly replaced in July after serving as the country's foreign policy leader for only seven months. This shake-up, which occurred without any explanation, was highly unusual. On July 25, the top decision-making body of China's rubber-stamp parliament approved this sudden move, putting an end to weeks of speculation and rumor regarding Qin's fate. Prior to his replacement, Qin had been absent from the public eye for a whole month.

Qin's removal from his position has triggered a series of high-level personnel changes within China's military Rocket Force. This has also raised ongoing concerns about the whereabouts and status of China's Defense Minister, Li Shangfu, who has been absent from public view for over two weeks. It is worth noting that Beijing has not provided any explanation for Qin's removal, nor have they mentioned any ongoing investigation into the former minister.

Before his removal, Qin's absence from a diplomatic event in July was initially attributed to "health reasons" by the Foreign Ministry. However, this explanation was later excluded from an official briefing transcript, and when questioned about it, a spokesperson claimed to have "no information to provide."

According to the Wall Street Journal, individuals familiar with the situation revealed that senior Chinese officials were recently apprised of the Communist Party's inquiry into Qin. They were informed that Qins expulsion was officially justified by "lifestyle issues," a term frequently associated with sexual misconduct.

The Wall Street Journal reported that two people informed the officials that Qin had been involved in an extramarital affair resulting in the birth of a child in the US. The report stated that the names of the woman and child were not disclosed to the officials.

China's defense minister, Li Shangfu, inspects an honor guard in Singapore on Thursday, June 1, 2023. In May, the US proposed a meeting between Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Li Shangfu in Singapore during the Shangri-La Dialogue, a significant security conference in the Asia-Pacific region. The photo was taken by Lionel Ng/Bloomberg/Getty Images.

There is increasing speculation about the location of China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu. The Wall Street Journal reports that an investigation is currently ongoing, and Qin is providing cooperation. The probe is focused on determining if the alleged affair and any potential actions by Qin have had an impact on China's national security.

CNN has been unable to verify the report independently. Despite reaching out to China's State Council Information Office, responsible for handling press inquiries for the central government, CNN did not receive any response.

During a routine press briefing on Tuesday, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry expressed unawareness of the information when questioned about the report.

Chinese Foreign Minister's appointment and removal have been previously disclosed by the Chinese side, stated spokesperson Mao Ning, alluding to the July announcement of his successor. Qin was replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi, however, he continues to be listed as one of China's five State Councilors, which is a prominent position within China's governing body.

Qin's departure earlier this summer occurred at a time when national security has become increasingly crucial under President Xi. He recognizes the immense risks that China faces due to strained relations with the United States and its allies. As a result, Xi has made considerable efforts to strengthen China's counter-espionage and intelligence gathering capabilities. Qin, who had served as the Chinese Ambassador to the US since July 2021, briefly took on the position of foreign minister in early 2023 before leaving.

Qin, who is married and has a son, played a crucial part in facilitating communication between the US and China during his time in office. He even had a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in mid-June when the American diplomat visited Beijing.

Qin's qualifications until 2021 are documented on a page featuring a compilation of ex-vice and assistant ministers. However, it is noteworthy that Qin's name is absent from both the roster of former foreign ministers and the Chinese language edition of the ex-vice and assistant minister page. This report incorporates contributions from CNN's Beijing bureau.