Overview

• Liu Haixing, a 62-year-old veteran diplomat with a focus on Europe, has been tapped to head the party’s International Department, according to reporting cited Tuesday.
• He succeeds Liu Jianchao, who has not appeared publicly since late July, with reports saying he was detained and removed from the post in August.
• Reporting indicates the appointment is expected to be formally announced at a party leadership conclave scheduled for October 20–23.
• Liu has served as deputy director of the Office of the National Security Commission since 2018 and previously held senior Foreign Ministry roles, including assistant minister in 2015 after leading the Department of European Affairs and postings in Paris and at China’s UN mission.
• The International Department is a key party organ for party-to-party outreach, and the reshuffle follows earlier, unexplained changes in China’s diplomatic leadership such as the 2023 removal of former foreign minister Qin Gang.