BEIJING: Liu Jianchao, a senior Chinese language diplomat extensively seen as a possible future overseas minister, has been taken away by authorities for questioning, the Wall Avenue Journal reported on Sunday (Aug 10).
Liu was taken away after returning to Beijing in late July from an abroad work journey, WSJ reported, citing individuals aware of the matter.
China’s State Council Data Workplace, which handles media queries for the Chinese language authorities, and the Chinese language Communist Social gathering Worldwide Liaison Division didn’t instantly reply to Reuters’ request for remark.
Liu, 61, has led the Communist Social gathering’s physique accountable for managing ties with overseas political events. Since taking the function in 2022, he has travelled to greater than 20 nations and met officers from greater than 160 nations.
Liu’s busy schedule, particularly his conferences with the previous US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, stoked expectations that the previous ambassador and ministry spokesman was being groomed to be the following overseas minister.
The best-level probe involving a Chinese language diplomat thus far was in 2023 when its former overseas minister and President Xi Jinping’s protégé, Qin Gang, was ousted following rumours of an extramarital affair.
Born within the northeastern province of Jilin, Liu majored in English at Beijing Overseas Research College and studied worldwide relations at Oxford earlier than taking on his first put up as a translator with the overseas ministry.
He has served in China’s mission to Britain and later as ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Throughout his time as ministry spokesman, he was identified for humorous off-the-cuff feedback whereas making a no-nonsense defence of China’s pursuits.
