A Chinese diplomat Liu Ziyanchao has been detained on suspicion

• Liu Ziyanchao has been detained for questioning after returning from a foreign trip.
• He is considered a potential candidate for the position of minister of foreign affairs.
• The detention is the highest-profile case among diplomats in recent years.

Liu Ziyanchao, a senior Chinese diplomat who is believed to be a potential successor for the minister of foreign affairs, was detained by authorities for questioning. According to the Wall Street Journal, the detention took place after his return to Beijing at the end of July from a work trip abroad.

Liu, 61, has headed the international department of the Communist Party of China since 2022. During this time, he has visited over 20 countries and met with representatives from more than 160 states. His active engagement has raised expectations that he could become the next minister of foreign affairs.

Liu's detention marks the highest level of investigation among diplomats since the resignation of former foreign minister Qin Gang in 2023 amid rumors about his personal life. Liu Ziyanchao, hailing from the province of Cilin, studied English at the university of foreign affairs in Beijing and international relations at Oxford.

He has also held positions in the Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom and has been ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines. During his tenure as an official in the foreign ministry, Liu was regarded as a charismatic speaker, capable of defending China's position with humor and eloquence.

Tags: China/Politics