China's top diplomat in WA, Consul General Dong Zhihua, has unexpectedly returned to Shanghai amid rising trade tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
Madam Dong returned to China on Wednesday, but a spokesman for the consulate said her departure was because of "a health issue".
When asked what kind of issue he said he did not know, but he expected her to get treatment after the "quarantine period".
WA Asian Engagement Minister Peter Tinley said he was not given advance notice of Madam Dong's exit.
"No, there was no formal communication with me," he said.
"As I'm aware, she's gone back to China for personal reasons, I'm advised it's a health reason, so that's the limit of our concern, is for her welfare.
"Madam Dong has been a tremendous support to the Government in making sure we're getting messages through from Beijing and to Beijing that are in the interests of Western Australia."
Departure comes amid crippling new tariffs
Mr Tinley dismissed suggestions Madam Dong's departure had anything to do with recent tensions between Australia and China.
China has been dismayed at Australia's push for an independent inquiry into COVID-19 and earlier this week imposed an 80 per cent tariff on Australian barley, the vast majority of which is grown in WA.
"If they wanted to send a message they would send a message, they haven't done that," he said.
"We're receiving it just as a personal medical issue that she's had to deal with."
In a statement, a spokesman for WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed he had been told Madam Dong was leaving only on the day of her departure.
"The State Government was notified yesterday that Madam Dong needed to return to China for medical treatment," he said.
"We thank Madam Dong for her service in WA, and her commitment to the state during her time here."
The WA Government has been told Deputy Consul General Jin Quian would act as China's Consul General in Perth for the foreseeable future.
China relationship built on iron ore
China imports hundreds of millions of tonnes of WA iron ore every year and is WA's biggest trading partner.
Madam Dong was viewed as having a positive relationship with the WA Government and regularly attended media conferences alongside WA Ministers.
But independent China researcher Wai Ling Yeung did not believe her departure would mean a poorer relationship between Beijing and WA.
"I think the relationship that Western Australia has built with China is quite a steady relationship which is mutually beneficial," she said.
"I'm not sure that China will throw it away."
Ms Yeung said China may have recalled Ms Dong because she was a skilled and senior Chinese diplomat who "might be needed" in China at the moment.
"With her experience in foreign affairs and particularly with her connections with the United Nations, I think China might actually benefit from some of her advice," she said.
University of WA China expert Jie Chen said he accepted Madam Dong was likely ill.
Like Ms Yeung, Associate Professor Chen did not believe her departure would weaken WA's strong ties with China.
"From [a] Chinese official point of view WA has been China-friendly, particularly with the current Government," he said.
He said if China was recalling a diplomat for political purposes, it would remove the much higher ranking Australian Ambassador to China and it would make its reasons clear.
"If the Chinese Government withdrew an ambassador for some reason it would say so, it wouldn't say it's for health reasons," Associate Professor Chen said.
