China has officially removed Defence Minister Li Shangfu from his position, two months following his abrupt disappearance from the public eye. The reasons for his ouster remain undisclosed, and his successor for the role has not been named.
Li Shangfu’s removal comes in the wake of other recent dismissals of senior military personnel, notably Qin Gang, who was ousted from his role as foreign minister in July. Both Qin Gang and Li Shangfu were also relieved from their roles on the State Council, China’s chief governing body, earlier this week. The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s primary legislative body, approved these decisions, as reported by state-run broadcaster CCTV.
Li Shangfu’s absence comes at a crucial time, with China poised to welcome foreign defense representatives in Beijing this week. Last month, Reuters shed light on the fact that Li was potentially being probed for alleged corruption, focusing on equipment acquisition and development. He was last spotted in public on August 29 at a security convention in Beijing with African nations. Gen Li, who started his career in the aerospace sector, has had a consistent climb within the Chinese military and political circles. His leadership in 2018, overseeing military equipment development, led to US sanctions against him due to China’s procurement of Russian military hardware.
Interestingly, Gen Li had declined to meet US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a defense summit in Singapore earlier this year, with the sanctions believed to be a point of contention.
Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, considered a confidant of President Xi Jinping, was similarly removed from his post after only seven months. His dismissal’s cause remains unconfirmed; however, speculations arise from the Wall Street Journal hinting at an alleged affair during his tenure as the ambassador to the United States. Notably, soon after his removal, leadership changes occurred within an elite unit managing China’s nuclear weaponry, sparking rumors of an extensive purge.
In particular, General Li Yuchao and his deputy, who were in charge of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Rocket Force unit, had been absent from public view for several months before their official removals were publicized.
