Xi Jinping Has the HR Problem From Hell
The apparent purge of his foreign minister shows just how difficult it’s going to be for China’s leader to groom new talent.
Qin turned out to be a bad choice.
Photographer: Suo Takekuma/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
We may never know why China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from his post after serving barely seven months. But the disappearance of the 57-year-old protégé of President Xi Jinping reveals something far more worrisome than the possible whiff of scandal: the tough challenge the Chinese strongman faces in finding reliable younger leaders.
Since the foreign minister in the Chinese system acts mostly as a messenger for his political bosses, Qin’s removal is unlikely to have major policy implications. Still, Qin’s abrupt departure calls into question whether Xi made a mistake in putting the younger official on the fast track and if he can do better at finding future talent.