Iran Press/ Asia: Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed from office this week, deepening a mystery over what precisely has happened to a one-time confidant of President Xi Jinping and one of Beijing's most well-known officials.
Qin, considered close to President Xi, was appointed foreign minister in December 2022.
China has reappointed Wang Yi as foreign minister, providing a familiar face for Washington to engage with amidst strained relations. However, this return is unlikely to bring significant improvements in the troubled bilateral relationship or address concerns about the opaque nature of President Xi Jinping's government.
Qin earned a reputation as a "Wolf Warrior", a nickname given to a new generation of Chinese diplomats who push back with often inflammatory rhetoric against Western criticism of Beijing.
On Tuesday, after not being seen in public for a month, China's top lawmaking body met and removed Qin from his position.
"Qin Gang was removed from the post of foreign minister," state news agency Xinhua reported, adding that President Xi "signed a presidential order to effectuate the decision."205
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