China detains senior diplomat Liu Jianchao for probe

Liu Jianchao, a senior Chinese diplomat widely seen as a potential future foreign minister, has been taken away by authorities for questioning, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

Liu was taken away after returning to Beijing in late July from an overseas work trip, WSJ noted, citing people familiar with the matter, Report informs.

China's State Council Information Office, which handles media queries for the Chinese government, and the Chinese Communist Party International Liaison Department did not immediately respond to request for comment.

Liu, 61, has led the Communist Party's body in charge of managing ties with foreign political parties. Since taking the role in 2022, he has traveled to more than 20 nations and met officials from more than 160 countries.