Top Chinese diplomat detained after overseas trip: Was in line for foreign minister role - reports

A senior Chinese diplomat, Liu Jianchao, who has been widely seen as a potential future foreign minister, has been detained by authorities for questioning, WSJ reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Liu, 61, currently heads the international department of the ruling Communist Party, which manages ties with foreign political parties.

He was reportedly "taken away" in late July after returning to Beijing from an overseas work trip, news agency AFP said, citing the report. The reasons for his detention remains unclear.
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The veteran diplomat has previously served as ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia, and as spokesperson for the foreign ministry. He also held senior roles in anti-corruption bodies under President Xi Jinping’s flagship campaign against graft.

His detention marks the highest-level inquiry into a Chinese diplomat since former foreign minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed in 2023 amid reports of an extramarital affair.

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Liu was last seen in public on July 29 in Algeria, following diplomatic engagements in several African nations and Singapore, according to his department’s official website.

Earlier in July, Liu had criticised the United States’ defence chief, accusing him of “inciting confrontation and conflict” by calling on American allies to strengthen their militaries to counter China.

There has been no official response from Beijing to the report.