12-7-2023 (BEIJING) Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang is reportedly unwell and will not be attending the two-day summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta this week, according to the country’s foreign ministry. This announcement came on Tuesday, leaving many speculating about the nature of Qin’s illness, as he has not been seen in public for over two weeks. It is unusual for China to acknowledge the health condition of a senior leader.
Wang Wenbin, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, provided no details about Qin’s ailment but stated that he would be unable to attend the foreign ministers’ meetings due to health reasons. In Qin’s absence, Wang Yi, the former foreign minister and current head of the ruling Communist Party’s Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, will represent China at the summit on Thursday and Friday.
Wang Yi recently sparked controversy with his remarks suggesting that Westerners cannot distinguish between Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese. He even proposed the formation of an alliance among the three countries based on racial and cultural similarities. Despite the backlash, Wang will participate in several crucial meetings, including the China-ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting, the ASEAN-China-Japan-South Korea foreign ministers’ meeting, the East Asia Summit foreign ministers’ meeting, and the ASEAN Regional Forum foreign ministers’ meeting.
China has been actively seeking closer ties with the 10 ASEAN member countries, primarily through trade, as part of its strategy to counterbalance US influence in the region and challenge the existing liberal world order led by the United States. However, China’s ambitions have been met with resistance due to its assertive territorial claims in the South China Sea. ASEAN members, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines, have overlapping claims in the disputed waters and have welcomed the presence of the US military as a counterweight to China. China, on the other hand, criticizes US involvement as undue interference.
Wang Wenbin, the foreign ministry spokesperson, emphasized that the upcoming foreign ministers’ meeting serves as a platform to enhance mutual trust and cooperation. He expressed China’s hope that the meeting would build consensus, prepare the groundwork for a successful ASEAN leaders’ summit in September, and contribute to regional peace, stability, and prosperity.
Qin Gang, 57, gained prominence as a vocal spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, advocating an aggressive and confrontational style of diplomacy known as “wolf warrior diplomacy,” inspired by a popular Chinese movie franchise. Prior to his role as foreign minister, Qin served as China’s ambassador to Washington and head of protocol for the ministry.
In March, Qin warned the United States of potential conflict and confrontation, adopting a combative stance amid tensions over Taiwan, COVID-19, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. His remarks came after President Xi Jinping accused Western governments, led by the US, of attempting to encircle and suppress China. Qin’s last public appearance, according to the foreign ministry’s website, was a meeting with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Ali Sabry in Beijing on June 25.
The “wolf warrior” approach has been embraced by many senior Chinese diplomats, but it has also faced criticism at times. Zhao Lijian, a former ministry spokesperson and one of its prominent proponents, was reassigned to a department overseeing land and sea borders in January, which was widely interpreted as a demotion.
Since assuming office in May, Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng has generally maintained an optimistic tone in spite of the historically strained relationship between the world’s two largest economies.
China’s tightly controlled and opaque political system, coupled with the absence of a free press, often leads to speculation regarding the disappearance of high-ranking officials. Similar curiosity arose when former Chinese President Hu Jintao was discreetly guided off the stage without explanation during the Communist Party’s twice-a-decade congress.
While internal power struggles and corruption scandals are not uncommon within the party, it outwardly presents a united front behind President Xi Jinping.
