Senior Chinese Diplomat Liu Jianchao Detained in Surprise Move for Raising Questions

In a development that has sent ripples through Beijing’s diplomatic circles, Chinese authorities have detained Liu Jianchao, a senior diplomat widely seen as a frontrunner for the role of China’s next foreign minister. According to multiple sources, the 61-year-old was taken in for questioning in early August, shortly after returning from a work trip to Singapore, South Africa, and Algeria. His home was also searched, though no official explanation has been provided.

Liu’s sudden removal marks the most high-profile diplomatic disappearance since former foreign minister Qin Gang’s dramatic ouster in 2023. Analysts suggest the move may be tied to President Xi Jinping’s continuing anti-corruption campaign, which has often overlapped with internal power struggles at the top of the Communist Party.

Oxford-educated and fluent in English, Liu has long been regarded as one of Beijing’s most polished communicators. Since 2022, he has led the Communist Party’s International Department, a body tasked with managing ties with foreign political parties. Foreign diplomats often praised him for his confident, approachable style and ability to engage spontaneously, a contrast to his more cautious predecessors.

His detention, however, leaves a significant gap in China’s diplomatic leadership at a time of mounting geopolitical pressures. Liu was widely expected to succeed Wang Yi as foreign minister, particularly after a high-profile 2024 visit to Washington that many saw as a trial run for the role.

“If true, Liu Jianchao’s downfall creates a deeper leadership vacuum in China’s foreign affairs,” said Wen-Ti Sung of the Atlantic Council.

For now, Liu’s profile remains on the Party’s website. But his unexplained detention underscores the opaque nature of Chinese elite politics—where even the country’s most promising diplomats can suddenly vanish.