He has not been seen in public for more than two weeks. As a result, various speculations have started about his absence. China’s top diplomat Wang Yi will represent China at the summit in Jakarta instead of Qin Gang, said at least three sources close to China’s foreign ministry, who did not want to be named.
The time has already been fixed that the meeting will be held next Thursday. The East Asia Conference and the ASEAN Regional Forum are scheduled to be held on Friday. Qin (57) took over as foreign minister in December last year. Qin was last seen in public in Beijing on June 25 after meeting with officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. Asked about the location of the Qin gang, there was no response from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Keen’s absence has become very public. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin was asked about Qin’s absence, citing a report published by US political news portal Politico last Friday. According to a report by Politico, he was asked what the real issue was after speculation that health issues were behind his absence. In response, Wang said he had “not heard anything” about the report.
A European Union (EU) spokesman said Qin was due to meet EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Beijing last week. But the EU was informed by China that it is not possible to hold a meeting on that date. The meeting was then adjourned. A source related to Borel’s meeting said that the meeting was scheduled to take place on July 5. The EU was informed of the postponement of the meeting just two days before the meeting.
Wang Yi, the foreign policy chief of the Communist Party of China, is above Qin Gang. Keen heads the government’s foreign policy as foreign minister.