CCP Is Toppling, Xi Is Crying! Chinese Foreign Minister Is Hiding

China's youngest national vice-leader and rapidly rising State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, has mysteriously disappeared. Not only has he been absent from all scheduled diplomatic public activities, but he also has not made any public appearances or statements, raising widespread speculation. First, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said he was sick, then later avoided discussing Qin Gang's current situation. However, Chinese social media is buzzing with rumors that Qi

n is actually involved in a scandalous affair, allegedly with a Phoenix TV presenter suspected of being a double agent, hence an investigation by Xi Jinping's administration. Qin Gang has been missing from the public eye for almost a month. It's unprecedented for such a high-ranking official, formerly the Chinese ambassador to the U.S. and the current Foreign Minister, to vanish so ambiguously and for such a long period. Where has Qin Gang gone? This question has kept the major mainstream media

in hot pursuit. On July 19, Xie Feng, the Chinese ambassador to the U.S., attended the Aspen Security Forum and discussed a series of issues regarding US-China relations with the forum host and senior editor of Semafor, Steven Clemons. Clemons asked if, in addition to meeting with Li Shangfu and Wang Yi, Henry Kissinger would meet with Qin Gang in Beijing. Xie Feng replied, "Let’s wait and see." When Clemons pressed on with "Any more?" Xie Feng stated he believed there will be other Chinese lead

ers who would meet with Kissinger. Clemons mentioned that everyone was interested in news about China's current Foreign Minister Qin Gang and said that people just want to know how he's doing. "I swear, I thought maybe he was doing secret diplomacy, and that Kissinger was over and engaged with Qin Gang but that hasn’t come out yet. If it has happened, I hope you could give me the scoop." Xie Feng responded that the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry had already briefed the media on thi

s and added, "Thank you for your care." The exchange between Clemons and Xie Feng elicited laughter from the attendees. Now, rumors about Qin Gang are swirling. Among the most eye-catching is the alleged romantic relationship between him and Phoenix TV presenter Fu Xiaotian. In March 2022, Fu Xiaotian interviewed Qin Gang, the then Chinese ambassador to the United States, during her visit to the US and shared content and images from the exclusive interview on her Weibo. Eyebrows were raised over

the apparent intimacy between the two as seen in the video. A picture of Qin Gang looking at the White House taken during filming of the interview was used by Fu Xiaotian to promote her program and was also set as Qin Gang's Twitter profile picture. On the evening of March 19, 2023, Beijing time, Fu Xiaotian, who has millions of followers on Weibo, posted a "birthday blessing" wishing someone "annual celebrations and perennial jubilance", to be "surrounded by love, light in your eyes, and reuni

ted with your family." In another Weibo post, on the evening of March 18, 2023, Eastern US time (morning of March 19, Beijing time), Fu Xiaotian wrote for her newly born son, "Daddy has gone to fulfill his duty, he's so busy he doesn't even have time for his birthday, can only wish daddy a happy birthday from afar." Public records show that Qin Gang's birthday is March 19, 1966. Netizens also discovered a suspected Instagram account of Fu Xiaotian. She posted a side profile picture of Qin Gang w

ith a caption in English stating, "February 24, 2022, a historic day for us." The overt public display of affection has essentially confirmed the romantic relationship between Qin Gang and Fu Xiaotian in the eyes of the public. Fu Xiaotian's last Weibo post was on April 10th of this year, in which she revealed that the last time she flew from Los Angeles to Washington was for a work interview which turned out to be the last time she physically appeared on the "Talk With World Leaders" program. "

After one year, I am once again boarding this plane, also from LA, but now I have my baby son Er-Kin with me. This time, the destination is — the frontline" She has not updated her Weibo since. According to the records on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the last public appearance of Foreign Minister Qin Gang was on June 25, when he met with officials from Sri Lanka, Russia, and Vietnam. After that, he disappeared from public view, missing several major events during the busy diploma

tic season. On July 11, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Wang Wenbin, stated that Qin Gang could not attend the ASEAN meeting due to "health reasons". However, this statement was not included in the text records of the press conference that day. The Chinese Foreign Ministry usually removes content they consider sensitive from the official records. At the regular press conference on July 14, when a reporter from AFP asked when Qin Gang is expected to return and if there were any

updates, Wang Wenbin remained silent for about 17 seconds before saying, "I have already referred to this issue before, next question." This exchange was also deleted from the text records. On July 17, three and a half weeks after Qin Gang's "disappearance," international interest in his whereabouts intensified. Mao Ning, the spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, was repeatedly asked by foreign media about Qin's disappearance. A journalist from the Financial Times demanded Mao provide in

formation on Qin's current situation, to which she replied, "I have no information to provide." Another foreign journalist brought up rumors about Qin being questioned, and Mao responded, "I'm not aware of the situation you're referring to." One person bluntly asked if Qin Gang was still China's Foreign Minister. Mao responded, "I suggest you refer to the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry; there's no additional information." Another journalist probed further, asking whether Qin Gang's heal

th issues had affected China's diplomacy. Mao answered, "China's diplomatic activities are being carried out normally." Mao Ning's awkward responses seemed to further corroborate that Qin Gang's absence was not due to health issues but rather some form of political trouble. 57-year-old Qin Gang has received exceptional promotions under Xi Jinping's rule. His career has skyrocketed in the past five years: he served as the deputy foreign minister in 2018, became the Chinese ambassador to the US in

2021, became a member of the central committee at the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2022, became the foreign minister in December, and was appointed as a State Councilor in March this year, thus becoming one of the "youngest party and state leaders" of the Chinese Communist Party. In other words, in a matter of months, Qin Gang accomplished a "triple jump", ascending from deputy minister level to minister level and then to vice national level. According to the usual pr

ogression of high-ranking officials within the Chinese Communist Party, one should have served as a minister-level official for at least five years before being appointed to a national level vice position. Qin Gang's rumored girlfriend, Fu Xiaotian, was born on June 12, 1983, in Chongqing. In 2002, she was admitted to Beijing Language and Culture University to study English Language and Literature. The university, the only one in China primarily focused on teaching Chinese language and culture t

o international students, is often referred to as a "mini United Nations." Due to the large number of foreign students, Chinese students studying there could potentially be selected for spy training. During her undergraduate studies at Beijing Language and Culture University, Fu Xiaotian simultaneously pursued a degree at Peking University, ultimately earning a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from the former and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the latter. In China, it

is highly unusual for an undergraduate student to transfer to Peking University, one of the most prestigious universities in the country, and to obtain bachelor's degrees from two different universities in two different fields of study. However, such special arrangements might be possible if she were being trained as a spy. In 2006, Fu Xiaotian entered Churchill College at the University of Cambridge. She earned a Master's degree in Education in 2008. That same year, she joined Phoenix TV and sh

ortly thereafter became the station chief and chief correspondent for Phoenix TV's London bureau. In 2011, she traveled twice to Libya for war reporting, earning her the nickname "Desert Flower". In 2012, she was transferred to the Hong Kong headquarters of Phoenix TV and was promoted to senior reporter, repeatedly traveling around the world as a special correspondent for major international events and conferences. Since 2013, Fu Xiaotian has been the host of Phoenix TV's flagship program "Talk

With World Leaders" where she has interviewed over 200 politicians from around the world. Many believe that a beautiful and reputable host, widely connected with international politicians, provides the perfect cover for espionage activities. In 2016, Churchill College at the University of Cambridge named a garden within its grounds the "Xiaotian Garden" in her honor. This marked the first time in the college's history that a facility was named after a female alumnus. Commentators have suggested

that Fu Xiaotian must have donated at least a million pounds to Cambridge to have received such an honor. However, at the time, 33-year-old Fu Xiaotian had only been with Phoenix TV for eight years. Where could she have amassed such wealth? It is evident that one or more wealthy individuals from the business world were financially supporting her. On the evening of June 12, 2017, within the Italian Embassy in China, Fu Xiaotian received the "Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy" from the Ital

ian President, recognizing her special contributions to Italy-China exchanges. She is the youngest person to have received this honor to date. Present at the award ceremony were her parents and Liu Changle, CEO of the board of directors of Phoenix TV. Incidentally, this day also marked Fu Xiaotian's 34th birthday. Following the ceremony, there were beautiful birthday cakes, warm birthday songs, and heartfelt birthday wishes. It is highly unusual for Fu Xiaotian to receive such an award, which ma

y have resulted from political connections. Perhaps this was a special birthday gift from a high-ranking official behind the scenes. In December 2020, Fu Xiaotian received the title of "Top Ten Outstanding New Youth of Hong Kong." Many speculate that if Fu Xiaotian is a spy, she likely has connections with the head of China's spies. Before Xi Jinping took office, who was the chief spy for the Chinese Communist Party? It was Zeng Qinghong, the second most powerful figure in Jiang Zemin's faction.

After Jiang Zemin took control of Zhongnanhai in 1989, he immediately appointed Zeng Qinghong to manage Zhongnanhai. Afterwards, Zeng leveraged his positions as director of the Central Office, minister of the CCP Organization Department, standing member of the Central Political Bureau, secretary of the Central Secretariat, chancellor of the Central Party School of the CCP, Vice President of the State, and head of the Central Hong Kong and Macao Work Leadership Group, as well as his connections

within the CCP "princelings" (descendants of China's political elites) and networks of the "second generation" party officials, to establish a global spy network. Hong Kong has long been a vital sphere of influence for Zeng Qinghong. Phoenix TV, headquartered in Hong Kong, has long been perceived as the mouthpiece of the Jiang faction. Liu Changle, founder of Phoenix TV, was born in Shanghai in November 1951. His father, Liu Xiangyi, once served as the deputy director of the Central Organization

Department's office before retiring. Liu Changle used to work at China National Radio; he moved abroad in 1988, settled in Hong Kong in 1990, and founded Phoenix TV in 1996. As early as 2005, an anonymous commentator revealed that Liu Changle had told guests at a banquet in Shenzhen in 1998 that China's Ministry of State Security had given him $2 million to start Phoenix TV. Zeng Qinghong's brother, Zeng Qinghuai, was appointed as the special inspector of the Chinese Communist Party's Ministry

of Culture in Hong Kong in 1995. He once served as the chairman of the Hong Kong China Cultural City and later as the honorary chairman for life. He was a "cultural tycoon" active in the political, commercial, and cultural circles of Hong Kong and mainland China, with close ties to many film and TV beauties, celebrities, and hosts in Hong Kong and the mainland. Naturally, the relationship between Phoenix TV and Zeng Qinghuai was extraordinary. If Phoenix TV was once a nest of spies for the CCP's

Ministry of State Security, then there was a clear line from Zeng Qinghong to Zeng Qinghuai, Liu Changle, and Fu Xiaotian. In recent years, Phoenix TV has become a key institution that Xi Jinping has sought to purge. In February 2021, the entire management of Phoenix TV, including the chairman and general manager, was replaced, and Liu Changle and his family completely exited from the Phoenix TV management. Fu Xiaotian's rise from a new hire at Phoenix TV to a top female host was directly relat

ed to Liu Changle's constant support. It is also possible that Fu Xiaotian was introduced by Liu Changle to a certain high-ranking official of the Chinese Communist Party. Could Fu Xiaotian be a "beautiful female spy" brought out by Liu Changle after he was ousted from Phoenix TV by the Xi Jinping administration? On April 10, 2023, the previously high-profile Fu Xiaotian went off the radar after a post about heading to the "frontline" with her son. Recently, the rumor mill has been spinning with

stories of an extramarital affair and an illegitimate child between Fu Xiaotian and Qin Gang, but Fu Xiaotian hasn't uttered a word. Many observers believe that Fu Xiaotian might have been arrested on suspicion of "espionage" by the Xi Jinping administration upon her return to mainland China, and that she was forced to disclose her romantic relationship with Qin Gang. Within the CCP system, a figure at Qin Gang's level would not be removed because of a scandal. But the rumor that Fu Xiaotian is

a double agent has given Qin Gang's political opponents ammunition. Former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin stated that if Qin Gang merely had a lifestyle issue, it shouldn't be a significant problem. However, if there is any evidence proving that Fu Xiaotian is indeed a double agent, then Qin Gang can no longer serve as the foreign minister. He believes that Xi is assessing this loss, and Qin Gang might not be able to reappear for a while. Yuan Hongbing, a legal scholar residing in Australia, ana

lyzed that the main issue is the discord between Qin Gang and Wang Yi, with both vying for power. Qin Gang had dismissed some people whom Wang Yi valued; he also adjusted the duties of a series of upper-level officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which touched upon Wang Yi's interests. Therefore, the power struggle between the two has reached a point of irreconcilable differences. According to leaks on Twitter, the new Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, learned of Qin Gan

g and Fu Xiaotian's affair from embassy staff and let the cat out of the bag, triggering Qin Gang's downfall. Xie Feng has a very close relationship with the current Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, so Ma Zhaoxu has been actively cooperating. However, Qin Gang's faction has not been idle, revealing that Ma Zhaoxu kept a foreign mistress during his tenure at the United Nations. Furthermore, Ma's brother Ma Kui and sister have been prospering in the United States, even breaking into the US oil i

ndustry. Some analyses suggest that the "Qin Gang case is the result of infighting within the Foreign Ministry." There are many individuals within the Foreign Ministry who are at odds with Qin Gang. Qin Gang's biggest adversary is the former foreign minister and current director of the Foreign Affairs Office, Wang Yi, who is nominally his superior now. Their disagreements mainly revolve around different diplomatic approaches. Wang Yi leans towards a more aggressive, anti-US, pro-Russia stance, k

nown as the "wolf warrior" diplomacy. In contrast, Qin Gang advocates for a more moderate approach, suggesting a better relationship with the US and maintaining a proper distance from Russia. When Qin Gang took office, he reassigned Wang Yi's favored pupil, the renowned "wolf warrior" Zhao Lijian, to the position of Deputy Director of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs, which was seen as a direct affront to Wang Yi. Their disagreement runs deep, and their relationship is incredibly str

ained. Eventually, there has to be a resolution to the Qin Gang affair. If he makes a public appearance, it would likely be the best outcome, indicating the "end of his recuperation"; if he remains out of sight, that would suggest a worse outcome. Regardless, the way the CCP has handled this incident leaves a profound impression of the Chinese officialdom as shrouded in darkness and riddled with dangers.