Absent for 12 days, where is Chinese foreign minister Qin Gang? Speculations rise about his health

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's prolonged absence from public view for 12 days has raised concerns and speculation about his well-being. Qin was scheduled to meet with the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, this month, but China unexpectedly postponed the meeting without providing further information. There have been rumors in Brussels that Qin's absence might be due to health issues, but Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin stated that he had not heard about such reports during a press briefing in Beijing.

The official website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicates that Qin's last official engagement was on June 25, where he met officials from Sri Lanka, Russia, and Vietnam. On the same day, he also participated in an event alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley. Additionally, a lunch meeting between Qin and ambassadors from the European Union in late June was abruptly canceled, according to an ambassador based in Beijing who was on the invite list.

Upcoming diplomatic commitments

Qin's upcoming diplomatic commitments would likely include a meeting with Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, who is expected to arrive in China on Sunday. Another anticipated event where China's foreign minister would typically attend is the upcoming summit of foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta next week. Wang, the foreign ministry spokesman, mentioned that information about China's participation in the ASEAN meetings would be released in a timely manner.

China tends to be cautious in disclosing details about its leaders' health. Notably, President Xi Jinping did not publicly disclose his vaccination status during the COVID-19 pandemic until July 2022, making him the last among the Group of Twenty leaders to do so.

The extended absence of Foreign Minister Qin has sparked speculation and raised questions about the reasons behind it. As China's foreign policy continues to play a significant role in global affairs, particularly in its relations with the European Union and ASEAN, the uncertainty surrounding Qin's absence has garnered attention and curiosity. Further information from official sources will be awaited to provide clarity on the situation.