"Reason for Dismissal of Zhong Qingjiang is Infidelity... Childbirth in the US"

WSJ, Citing Sources
"Chinese Ambassador to the US Maintained Extramarital Affair Throughout Tenure"

Chinese authorities dismissed former Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang without much explanation, amid reports that his extramarital affair during his tenure as ambassador to the United States was the reason for his dismissal.

On the 19th (local time), the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing sources, reported that senior officials including ministers of the central government and heads of local governments were informed last month of the Chinese Communist Party's investigation results regarding former Minister Qin Gang.

Qin Gang, former Chinese Foreign Minister. Photo by Reuters·Yonhap News

Previously, Qin Gang, who was said to be favored by Chinese President Xi Jinping, suddenly disappeared from official appearances in July, just seven months after taking office. However, Chinese authorities remained tight-lipped about Qin’s disappearance, leading to rampant speculation including rumors of an extramarital affair and a power struggle-related downfall.

According to reports, the official reason given for Qin Gang’s dismissal was "lifestyle issues," a euphemism used by the party to refer to sexual misconduct.

Qin Gang served as China’s ambassador to the United States from July 2021 to January 2023 and reportedly maintained an extramarital relationship throughout his tenure. Sources said that Qin had a child in the U.S. with a woman involved in the affair. The child’s name was not disclosed in the report.

The investigation into Qin Gang is currently ongoing with his cooperation. The focus of the investigation is whether the inappropriate relationship with this woman compromised China’s national security.

The WSJ explained that in China, sexual misconduct is often used as a method to tarnish the reputation of officials who fall out of favor with the party leadership and are removed from power.

However, one source told the WSJ that in Qin Gang’s case, the fact that the child was born in the U.S. was partly a reason for his dismissal, as it could potentially undermine Qin’s ability to represent China’s interests when dealing with the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.