Chinese diplomat Liu Ziyanchao detained for questioning

• Liu Ziyanchao was detained after returning from abroad.
• He had been in the position of head of the international department since 2022.
• The detention was the most significant incident among diplomats in China.

The Chinese diplomat Liu Ziyanchao, who is considered a potential successor to the minister of foreign affairs, was detained for questioning after returning to Beijing in mid-July.

According to information from The Wall Street Journal, Liu, 61, was detained after foreign visas were revoked. At the time of his detention, no explanations were provided from the Chinese government.

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other state agencies did not respond to inquiries from the media regarding the situation.

Liu was born in July 1964 in the province of Jilin. He studied English at Peking University and also received education in international relations at Oxford.

His career in the diplomatic service began in the translation department of the ministry, and later he held key positions in the British mission, as well as in the information department.

In 2022, Liu became the head of the International Department of the Communist Party. He actively traveled and met with representatives of more than 160 countries, which raised expectations regarding his appointment as minister of foreign affairs.

Liu's detention marked the highest level of investigation among diplomats since the resignation of former foreign minister Qin Gang in 2023 due to a scandal.

Tags: China/Politics