China Removes 'Missing' Li Shangfu as Defense Minister, Without Clarification

China Removes 'Missing' Li Shangfu as Defense Minister, Without Clarification, Officials Say

China Replaces Defense Minister Li Shangfu After His Two-Month Absence, State Media Says. Li is the second top Chinese official to vanish this year. Earlier, the former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was also removed from his position in July without any explanation.

Li, who took up the role of defense minister in March, hasn't been spotted since his speech on August 29. There's no sign that Qin and Li's absences suggest any shifts in China's foreign or defense strategies. However, their disappearances have sparked inquiries about the strength of President Xi Jinping's inner circle of authority.

Xi has a reputation for valuing loyalty above all else and has relentlessly attacked corruption in the public and private sectors. , Technology, and Taiwan.

Li faces US sanctions for overseeing weapon acquisitions from Russia, preventing him from entering the country. In response, China has halted communication with the US military, primarily as a form of protest against US arms deals with Taiwan. This move also suggests that Beijing insists on the removal of sanctions on Li, although they do not openly acknowledge this stance.

Li and Qin were dismissed from the State Council, which is China's main governing body. This practically guarantees the conclusion of their political paths, although it's uncertain whether they will encounter legal consequences or prosecutions.

After the removal of both individuals, the count of China's state councilors, a rank higher than a minister, was reduced to three.