On July 18, China’s ruling Communist Party made significant decisions during its third plenum of the Central Committee. Among these, the Party accepted the resignation of Qin Gang, who had previously served as Foreign Minister. Qin Gang’s abrupt disappearance from public view in 2023 led to his removal from government roles, although the reasons remain undisclosed. Despite his resignation, the Party referred to him respectfully as “Comrade.”
Qin Gang, aged 58, was succeeded by Wang Yi, his predecessor and a member of the influential Politburo. Before his resignation, Qin had also stepped down from the position of state councilor and as a member of China’s Parliament, the National People’s Congress.
In addition to Qin’s resignation, the plenum endorsed the expulsion of three top generals from the Party, including former Defence Minister Li Shangfu.
Li Shangfu, formerly in charge of China’s Rocket Force, faced corruption charges. Alongside him, Generals Li Yuchao and Sun Jinming were also expelled for similar reasons, emphasizing President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign within the military.
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President Xi, who also holds the role of General Secretary of the CPC, has been actively targeting corruption since assuming power in 2012. Over 50 military officials have faced removal or punishment under this campaign, underscoring the Party’s commitment to purging corruption and maintaining discipline within the People’s Liberation Army.
The decisions made at this plenum reflect the Party’s efforts to ensure leadership integrity and military discipline amid challenges both domestically and internationally.
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