On Tuesday, China replaced Qin Gang from his post as Foreign Minister after he was absent from his public responsibilities, replacing him with Wang Yi, state media said.
Qin, who was appointed as foreign minister in December, had not made his visit to the public since June when he met visiting diplomats in Beijing.
After he missed the summit in Indonesia, his ministry later said he was absent from his duties because of anonymous health causes, but incomplete information fueled speculation.
The absence of Qin also heightened nervousness about clarity and decision-making among the nation’s isolated leadership, analysts and diplomats said.
Wang who retakes his post, was replaced by Qin, who was held between 2018 and 2022.
It comes amid a storm of global engagements and frayed relations with rival US, which China has expressed as at its lower point since the establishment of diplomatic ties.
