China's Communist Party drops ex-foreign, defence ministers from top body

China's ruling Communist Party on Thursday accepted the resignation of sacked foreign minister Qin Gang from its Central Committee and endorsed the decision to expel former defence minister Li Shangfu and two other top Generals from the party.

The decision came during the top-level meeting of the party's Central Committee, which concluded here on Thursday.

According to the communique issued at the end of the four-day session called the third plenum of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee convened to discuss measures to improve the economy has accepted Comrade Qin Gang's resignation.

Qin, 58, disappeared suddenly in 2023 from public view after serving as China's shortest-serving foreign minister before being stripped of his remaining titles in the government.

The reason for his removal is still not known.

His whereabouts are also not known. However, while accepting his resignation, the Central Committee still referred to Qin as Comrade.

Qin was subsequently replaced