Reports of the detention of Liu Giancho, which came ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in the city of Tianjin, China later this month, sent a shock waves to Chinese officials and diplomatic circles earlier this month. File | Photo Credit: AFP
The Wall Street Journal said on Sunday (August 10, 2025) that Liu Jiancho, the Chief of Chinese diplomatic department of the Foreign Relations Department of the ruling Communist Party, has been detained.
The 61 -year -old senior diplomat was snatched away for questioning in late July after returning to Beijing from a foreign work trip, quoted by the people familiar with the case.
However, there is no official confirmation of their detention so far.
Mr. Liu, Minister of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), is considered as a possible future Foreign Minister and shares close ties with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Mr. Liu led a CPC delegation, in which attended the summit of liberation movements in South Africa on 28 July, according to the official media.
The news of Mr. Liu’s custody, news of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), was sent to Tianjin city of China later this month, sent waves of shock to Chinese officials and diplomatic circles.
The summit of the 10-Member SCO is going to be held from 31 August to 1 September.
As a minister of the International Department of CPC, Mr. Liu had great impact on China’s foreign policy, although Wang Yi is a foreign minister.
Mr. Liu was one of the top officers who were Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar met during his visit to Beijing on 14 July and discussed the progress of generalization of relations after last year’s meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Xi in Russia, ending the freeze of over four years due to military standoff at East Ladda.
The official website of the CPC International Department still has statements of Mr. Liu’s pictures and his meetings with various international dignitaries.
In 2023, which gang was excluded when the then foreign minister. Shri Qinn was also considered as the Proteg of Shri Xi. The reasons for the removal of Mr. Qin were not made public.
After the removal of Mr. Qinn, Wang, who is currently a member of the powerful political bureau of CPC and was the director of the Central Commission’s office for foreign affairs, was made Foreign Minister, a post that he abandoned to facilitate the height of Shri Qinu.
From Jilin’s Chinese province, Mr. Liu studied international relations at Oxford University and later joined the Chinese Foreign Ministry, where he served in various abilities as its spokesperson.
He also worked at the CPC’s Central Discipline Commission (CDS), who in 2012 investigated thousands of officers for corruption and indiscipline since Mr. Xi took over as the leader of the party.
The officers accused by the CDS included two Defense Ministers, besides scores of Chinese army generals.
Published – August 10, 2025 09:09 pm IST
