Chinese authorities have detained Liu Jianchao, the 61-year-old head of the Communist Party’s International Liaison Department and a leading contender to become the nation’s next foreign minister, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal. Liu was taken away for questioning in late July after returning to Beijing from an overseas trip that included stops in Algeria, according to the report published on 10 August. China’s State Council Information Office and the International Liaison Department did not respond to requests for comment, and officials have not disclosed the reason for the probe. Liu’s removal comes amid President Xi Jinping’s continuing anti-corruption campaign, although no specific allegations have been made. Liu has headed the party body that manages ties with foreign political parties since 2022, travelling to more than 20 nations and meeting officials from over 160 countries. His outreach, including meetings with former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, had fuelled expectations that he would eventually succeed Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The investigation is the most senior diplomatic shake-up since the 2023 dismissal of Qin Gang, underscoring the volatility at the top of China’s foreign-policy apparatus.