It has been one month since Qin Gang, China’s foreign minister, disappeared from public view. The official explanation for his absence was a “health issue,” but rumors have swirled that he was actually sacked by President Xi Jinping for political reasons.

Qin was a rising star in the Chinese Communist Party, and was seen as a potential successor to Wang Yi, the current foreign minister. However, he is also said to have been a critic of Xi’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy.

In the weeks since Qin’s disappearance, the Chinese government has been tight-lipped about his whereabouts. However, it is clear that his removal from office has sent a shockwave through the Chinese political establishment.

The mystery of Qin Gang’s disappearance is a reminder of the opaque and arbitrary nature of Chinese politics. It is also a sign of the growing power of Xi Jinping, who is increasingly consolidating his grip on power.