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| Former defense minister Li Shangfu |
China has recently witnessed a series of high-profile dismissals within its leadership, with the most notable being the removal of its defense minister, Li Shangfu, who had mysteriously vanished from the public eye two months ago.
This move has taken place without an official explanation or the immediate announcement of a successor to the role.
Li's removal follows a string of oustings of other influential military figures, including Qin Gang, who was relieved of his position as foreign minister back in July. Qin and Li's departures also extended to their positions on the State Council, China's central administrative authority.
The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the highest legislative body in China, officially approved their removal.
The timing of Li Shangfu's dismissal is particularly significant, leaving China without a defense minister at a time when it is about to host foreign defense officials in Beijing. Reuters had previously reported that Li was under investigation for alleged corruption related to equipment procurement and development.
His last known public appearance was on August 29 at a Beijing security forum attended by African nations. It's worth noting that Li had assumed the role of defense minister only in March.
Li Shangfu's background is intriguing, as he started his career as an aerospace engineer with experience in satellite and rocket launch centers. Over the years, he ascended through the ranks of both the military and the Chinese political elite.
In 2018, he found himself in the crosshairs of the US government due to China's acquisition of Russian combat aircraft and arms, which resulted in sanctions.
These sanctions appeared to be a contentious point for Li, leading to his refusal to meet with his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at a Singapore defense summit earlier in the year. Li was known to be favored by President Xi Jinping, much like Qin, who has now been stripped of his last government title.
In a parallel development in July, Qin Gang was removed from the position of China's foreign minister, a mere seven months into the job.
No official explanation was provided for Qin's removal, although sources cited by the Wall Street Journal alleged his involvement in an extramarital affair during his tenure as ambassador to the United States.
Shortly after Qin's removal, the replacement of two leaders in an elite unit responsible for managing China's nuclear arsenal raised speculations of a potential purge.
General Li Yuchao, who led the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force unit, along with his deputy, had been conspicuously absent for several months before the announcement of their dismissals.
These recent developments in the upper echelons of China's leadership have generated intrigue and raised questions about the motivations and implications behind these changes.
As China prepares to welcome foreign defense officials, the absence of a defense minister adds another layer of complexity to an already evolving political landscape.
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