The dismissal of ministers Qin Gang and Li Shangfu, who have been missing since the summer of 2023, is entering the final stretch shortly before the National People’s Congress. Just before the start of the plenary session of the National People’s Congress (NPC), former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who has not been seen since July 2023, has now stepped down from his seat on the body that passes laws and economic plans at the behest of China’s Communist Party leadership. The corresponding statement from the NPC Standing Committee said that Qin was neither dismissed nor expelled from the NPC. However, it is unlikely that he resigned voluntarily.