China has officially removed Li Shangfu as the country’s defense minister almost two months after he disappeared from public view. Li, who was appointed defense minister in March, had not been seen in public since late August.
Li Shangfu is the second high-profile Chinese minister to be sacked without any explanation. The standing committee of the National People’s Congress also removed the former foreign minister Qin Gang of his rank as state councillor (cabinet member) nearly three months after his absence from public view. Both Li and Qin was reportedly among favorite cabinet members of President Xi Jinping.
Chinese state media CCTV reported that China’s top legislators, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, approved the removal of both men.
The disappearances and dismissals of two cabinet members in a few months reveals increasing tensions in country’s upper ranks and Chinese politics.The situation has also raised questions about the government of Chinese President and ruling Communist Party leader Xi Jinping who has ramped up a campaign to bolster national security amid rising tensions with the West.
Chinese defense minister’s disappearance
Media reports have suggested a potential connection between these sanctions and the corruption investigation. Last month, Reuters reported an ongoing investigation into suspected corruption tied to equipment procurement and development involving Gen Li. The report added that eight senior officials from the Chinese military’s procurement unit, which Li led from 2017 to 2022, are also under investigation.
Li, an aerospace engineer, started his career at a satellite and rocket launch center and swiftly advanced through the military and Chinese political hierarchy.
In 2018, he faced US. sanctions for China’s purchase of Russian weapons when he led the military’s equipment development division. These sanctions apparently hindered Gen Li’s diplomatic engagements, as he declined a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin at a Singapore defense summit earlier this year. Beijing indicated that a meeting with the U.S. defense secretary would only occur if these sanctions were lifted.
Li was last seen in Beijing on August 29 where he delivered a key-note speech at a security forum with African nations. He also visited Russia and Belarus earlier that month.
