The China News Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) website reported on May that 56-year old Zhang Kunsheng, an Assistant Foreign Minister originally from Shanxi province and who has been posted at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, has been dismissed and put under investigation on suspicion "of violating discipline".  No further details were given. Zhang Kunsheng was the most senior of China's four Assistant Foreign Ministers and was in charge of the MFA's Protocol Department. Qin Gang, the ministry's Chief Spokesman has assumed the protocol position and Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Jianchao will take over from Qin Gang as the chief spokesman.