Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 12: Chinese authorities have detained Liu Jianchao, a prominent senior diplomat long regarded as a frontrunner to become China’s next foreign minister. The move marks the most high-profile diplomatic probe in Beijing since the abrupt ouster of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in 2023.
Liu, 61, currently heads the Chinese Communist Party’s International Liaison Department (ILD), a powerful organ tasked with managing ties between the party and foreign political groups. The Oxford-educated career diplomat previously served as China’s ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia, and in senior roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including spokesperson. His reputation as a polished communicator and bridge-builder with Western officials had positioned him as a strong candidate to succeed veteran foreign policy chief Wang Yi.
According to Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, Liu was taken in for questioning in early August, shortly after returning from a diplomatic trip to Singapore, South Africa, and Algeria. Sources indicate that his Beijing residence was searched, although no official reason for his detention has been disclosed.
The timing of his removal has fueled speculation over internal political struggles within the Communist Party and President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption and loyalty campaigns. Analysts note that under Xi, senior officials across the military, government, and diplomatic corps have been abruptly sidelined in opaque investigations, often without formal charges.
Liu’s high-profile engagements over the past year, including a meeting with then-U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in 2024 had bolstered his image as a pragmatic diplomat capable of navigating Beijing’s increasingly strained relations with Washington and its allies. Analysts say his removal leaves a potential leadership gap at a time when China faces complex foreign policy challenges, from managing U.S. tensions to deepening ties with the Global South.
