Foreign Affairs! Chinese envoy to Washington ‘was removed from office for fathering a child while having an affair in the US’

China’s former top envoy to Washington was abruptly removed from his post as foreign minister after an internal Communist Party investigation found he fathered a child during an extramarital affair in the US.

Qin Gang, 57, disappeared from public view in July and was stripped of his title as foreign minister without explanation.

But senior party officials were told that the former envoy to the United States had been removed from his prestigious post as foreign minister for “lifestyle reasons,” a euphemism for sexual misconduct, after CCP investigators discovered he had fathered a child with his mistress in the United States. US.

Sources told Wall Street Journal that the names of the woman and child were not disclosed to party officials when informed.

It is also not known exactly how long the affair lasted, when it allegedly took place and how old the child is.

He was abruptly fired in July, without explanation

The sources added that the CCP is now investigating whether Gang’s affair or other misconduct has endangered China’s national security.

Intelligence officials from around the world were reportedly involved in the downfall of Gang, who was removed from office after just seven months.

That’s according to Western intelligence officials who have spoken Intelligence onlineRussian spies told the CCP that Gang was at the center of an espionage operation on behalf of the United States.

In addition, Taiwan intelligence officials told the publication that the CCP was investigating at least two of his mistresses, one in the US and another based in Britain.

Gang was seen in intelligence circles as a measured and careful diplomat.

CCP leader Xi Jinping reportedly hand-picked him as China’s foreign minister just two years after he was appointed Beijing’s top envoy to the US, an unusually quick promotion.

Xi Jinping reportedly hand-picked Gang as China’s top diplomat

He was replaced by another career diplomat, Wang Yi (photo)

Despite this, he was quickly replaced by another career diplomat, Wang Yi.

Yi, 69, has held several important posts, including as foreign minister from 2013 to 2022.

He was also China’s envoy to Japan and headed the Taiwan Bureau for many years.

The gang’s removal came as part of a major crackdown on CCP officials suspected of espionage.

Earlier this month, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, whose main responsibility is military relations with other countries, was taken away for questioning by CCP authorities.

And in July, both the political and official heads of China’s Rocket Force, which controls the country’s strategic missiles, were fired without any public explanation.

MailOnline has contacted the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.