China’s former foreign minister, Qin Gang, has been linked to an extramarital affair with a prominent Chinese television presenter, raising questions about his abrupt removal from office. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that Qin had a relationship with Fu Xiaotian, a 40-year-old former host of a popular talk show on Phoenix TV. Sources close to Fu and China’s foreign policy establishment revealed that she had a child through surrogacy in the United States last year, although the father’s identity remains undisclosed.
The disappearance and removal of Qin, a once-trusted aide to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have been shrouded in mystery, with Beijing offering no official explanation. When questioned about the latest report, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson dismissed it as “not a diplomatic issue.”
It’s worth noting that in China, public figures often vanish for extended periods during investigations before their fate is revealed. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese officials were informed of an internal Communist Party investigation into Qin’s extramarital affair, which led to the birth of a child in the United States while he served as China’s envoy to Washington. The formal reason for Qin’s dismissal was cited as “lifestyle issues,” a term commonly associated with sexual misconduct. An ongoing investigation aims to determine if these alleged actions had any impact on China’s national security.
Qin Gang’s official government profile indicates that he is “married with a son.” The circumstances surrounding his removal continue to be a subject of intrigue and speculation.