China has replaced its Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu, who had been in office since June 2023. This is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following the removal of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July. The removal of these two officials has raised questions about the stability of the Chinese government and the future of President Xi Jinping's leadership.
Posts tagged as “Qin Gang”
Andrei Rudenko, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, visited Beijing on Sunday to discuss "international and regional issues of common concern" with the Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang. This follows Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the mercenary Wagner Group, ordering his troops to march on Moscow before reaching a deal with the Kremlin to go into exile. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been monitoring the events and engaging with the Russians. It is unclear what was discussed during Rudenko's visit, but it is likely that the two countries discussed the situation in Russia and the implications of the aborted rebellion.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has held two days of meetings with Chinese officials to attempt to ease tensions between the two countries. Both sides have expressed a willingness to talk, but have shown little inclination to compromise on their hardened positions. It is unclear if any progress has been made in their discussions.
China's Foreign Minister Qin Gang warned of "catastrophic consequences" if the US does not change its current course, accusing the US of taking a "reckless gamble" in how it treats its fellow superpower. He urged the US to recognize China's "core interests" and "major concerns" and to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Tensions between the two countries remain high, with the US accusing China of unfair trade practices and human rights abuses, and the two countries yet to reach a comprehensive trade deal.