• Liu Jianchao, a top Chinese diplomat, has been detained for questioning upon returning from an overseas trip.
• His detention is considered the highest-level inquiry involving a diplomat since former foreign minister Qin Gang's removal in 2023.
• Liu was seen as a potential candidate for the next foreign minister before his detention.
• The reasons for his detention remain unclear, with no immediate response from Chinese authorities.

Liu Jianchao, a senior diplomat in China and head of the Communist Party's international department, has been "taken away" for questioning after returning to Beijing from an overseas trip in late July, according to reports from the Channel News Asia, India Times, and The Jakarta Post.

His detention has raised concerns as it represents the most significant inquiry into a diplomat since Qin Gang's abrupt ousting as foreign minister in 2023 due to allegations of an extramarital affair. Liu, 61, was poised to advance in his career and was considered a leading candidate for the foreign minister role, reports the India Times, Channel News Asia, and The Jakarta Post.

Liu has had a robust diplomatic career, previously serving as ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia, and was notable for his engagements over the past year. He met with various foreign officials, including former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, indicating his rising influence within Chinese diplomacy. His last public appearance was on July 29 in Algeria, shortly after attending meetings in several African nations, according to Channel News Asia, India Times, and The Jakarta Post.

The reasons behind Liu's detention remain unclear, with the Chinese government yet to respond to inquiries regarding the situation. His involvement in key discussions and his criticism of US defense policies have added to the attention surrounding his case, as highlighted by India Times, Channel News Asia, and The Jakarta Post.