Overview

• Qin Gang, China's former foreign minister, has resigned from his seat in the national legislature after being missing from public view since June last year.
• He was dismissed from his post in July, following a brief seven-month tenure, and replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi.
• The resignation comes ahead of the National People's Congress annual session in March, set to focus on China's economic challenges.
• Reports suggest Qin was ousted over an extramarital affair during his time as ambassador to the U.S., raising concerns about national security.
• Qin's and other top officials' dismissals are seen as part of a broader effort to address security vulnerabilities amid increasing competition with the U.S. and its allies.