China has officially removed its defence minister, Li Shangfu, from his position, two months after he vanished from public view. The Chinese authorities have not provided any explanations for his dismissal, and they have not yet named a successor for the position.
Li’s removal follows the recent ousting of several high-ranking military officials, including Qin Gang, who was removed as the foreign minister in July. Both Qin and Li were also relieved of their positions on the State Council. The removal of these officials was approved by China’s top legislators, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress. Li’s dismissal leaves China without a defence minister as the country prepares to host foreign defence officials in Beijing this week.
According to reports by Reuters last month, Li Shangfu was under investigation for suspected corruption related to equipment procurement and development. His last public appearance was on August 29 at a Beijing security forum with African nations. He had taken on the role of defence minister in March. Li, an aerospace engineer, started his career at a satellite and rocket launch centre and rose through the ranks of the military and Chinese political elite. In 2018, he was sanctioned by the US government over China’s purchases of Russian combat aircraft and arms.
These sanctions were believed to be a point of contention for Li, who had refused to meet his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at a Singapore defence summit earlier this year. Li Shangfu was considered a favorite of President Xi Jinping, much like Mr. Qin, who has also been stripped of his last government title. In July, Qin Gang was removed as China’s foreign minister after only seven months in the role. While no official reason was given for his removal, reports from the Wall Street Journal suggested that he had engaged in an extramarital affair while serving as ambassador to the United States.
Shortly afterward, two leaders of an elite unit managing China’s nuclear arsenal were replaced, sparking speculation of a broader purge. General Li Yuchao, who led the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) Rocket Force unit, and his deputy had been absent for months before their dismissals were announced.