Hey, it's Ryan. We'll be back on Thursday with a new episode to start off 2025.

But until then, we wanted to remind you of this series we made earlier this year.

It's a story about the mysterious downfall of China's missing foreign minister.

Kate and our reporting team take you through one of the most intriguing political mysteries

to come out of China in years.

I think you'll find it fascinating.

There are three episodes, and they've all been linked into show notes.

I hope you'll give it a listen.

Here's episode one.

The last day that Chin Gong, China's then foreign minister, was seen in public, was on June 25th of last year.

It was a hot, humid day in Beijing, and according to his official schedule, Chin spent some of that day carrying out his foreign minister duties as usual. Mostly, this meant meeting other

foreign ministers. We know from Qing Gong's official schedule that he met with Sri Lanka's

foreign minister. That's chief China correspondent Ling Ling Wei. Chin and the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister discussed China's Belt and Road Initiative.

They shook hands and snapped a picture in front of their country's flags.

We know he met with the Vietnamese foreign minister and that they talked about the Vietnamese Prime Minister's

visit to China.

Another handshake,

another picture,

in front of another set of flags.

And Chenggong also met

with a representative from Russia,

one of China's key partners.

...