TOKYO/HONG KONG ¨C Handpicked by leader Xi Jinping to be China¡¯s foreign minister late last year, Qin Gang ¡ª a fluent English speaker and savvy political operator ¡ª was expected to help guide Beijing through an increasingly tumultuous relationship with the United States.
Instead, just over half a year into the job, he disappeared, stoking rampant speculation about his fate. Was he ousted from the post? Did a rumored affair with a prominent television anchor or dissatisfaction among some in the ruling Communist Party lead to his downfall? Or was he just sick?
China¡¯s top legislative body didn¡¯t answer those questions late Tuesday, but it did resolve the most important one: Qin is out, removed from his post as foreign minister exactly one month since his last public appearance.
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