According to the South China Morning Post, a seasoned diplomat specializing in European affairs has been appointed head of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party’s diplomatic corps.
He will replace Liu Qianchao, who has not appeared in public since late July amid reports that he may face disciplinary action.
According to sources, the diplomat was arrested shortly after returning from a trip to Algeria.
Liu, 62, has held various diplomatic positions over the past three decades and has served as deputy director of the Office of the National Security Commission since 2018.