China removes foreign minister months after appointment

China has removed Qin Gang as foreign minister less than seven months after he was appointed to the post, BBC reported.

The role will be taken up by the Communist Party’s foreign affairs chief, Wang Yi, who was previously foreign minister.

Mr Qin’s prolonged disappearance from public view – and his ministry’s silence over it – has fuelled furious speculation.

The 57-year-old’s last known public engagements were on 25 June.

Appointed to his post last December, Mr Qin was seen as a trusted aide of Chinese President Xi Jinping.