Former Chinese Foreign Minister Rumored to be Dead

Beijing: Chinese former foreign minister Qin Gang (56) is rumored to have died. Gang, who assumed office in December 2022, was fired from his post last July. According to a foreign media report, Gang Julai, who disappeared from public view in June, finally died at a military hospital in Beijing. His death is believed to be a suicide or a result of physical abuse. A former Chinese ambassador to the U.S., Gang was a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and a close supporter of President Xi Jinping. He also served as the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs. Gang’s ouster is rumored to be due to an affair he had with a woman while he was ambassador to the US. Wang Yi, a senior leader and Xi confidant, is the current foreign minister. At the same time, Defense Minister Li Shangfu, like Gang, was sacked in October. He has also been missing since August. Shangfu’s replacement has yet to be appointed.