The FT reports that China's former foreign minister had an affair with a TV personality

The Financial Times reported Tuesday that China's ousted foreign minister Qin Gang had an extramarital affair with a high-profile Chinese television presenter who had a child through surrogacy in the US, deepening the mystery of his disappearance and removal.

The FT said that six people close to Fu and China's foreign policy establishment said Fu Xiaotian, 40, the former anchor of Phoenix TV's flagship talk program, was dating 57-year-old Qin.

One unnamed source told the FT that Fu had a child last year with a US surrogate mother. The father was not identified.

The FT revelation is the newest piece in the enigma of Qin, a trusted ally of Chinese leader Xi Jinping who was abruptly sacked as foreign minister in July after a month's disappearance.

Beijing has refused to explain Qin's removal and dodged foreign journalists' inquiries at press briefings.

At a Wednesday press briefing, a Foreign Ministry official remarked, “This is not a diplomatic issue.”

In China, authorities, corporate tycoons, and celebrities may disappear for weeks or months while under investigation before their fate is revealed.

From his résumé on Chinese official websites, Qin is “married with a son.”