BEIJING (Dunya News) – China has abruptly removed senior diplomat Sun Weidong from his post as vice foreign minister, a move that has raised questions across political and diplomatic circles.
According to a brief statement issued by Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of China, the dismissal was approved by the country’s top state authority. However, no reasons or timeline for the decision were disclosed, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the development.
Information available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China shows that Sun’s last public engagement took place on March 13, when he met with the ambassadors of Brunei and Malaysia. Just two days earlier, he had also held talks with Pakistan’s envoy in Beijing on bilateral cooperation.
Analysts note that sudden removals of senior officials in China are often linked to internal accountability mechanisms or shifts in policy direction. However, the lack of official clarification in this case has fuelled speculation and made the situation more complex.
The development comes amid China’s ongoing anti-corruption drive, which intensified last year. Official reports indicated that more than one million cases were investigated, with approximately 938,000 individuals receiving various punishments.
The sweeping campaign has targeted officials at multiple levels, including dozens of high-ranking authorities as well as thousands of bureaucrats at provincial, district, and local tiers—reflecting Beijing’s strict stance on corruption within the state apparatus.