After a prolonged silence of nearly two months, China has officially ousted its 'missing' Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu, from office. Li's dismissal follows a similar fate experienced by his former Cabinet colleague and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, whose whereabouts remain unknown. Besides Li, China also removed Finance Minister Liu Kun and appointed Lan Fo'an as his successor, marking the third unexplained replacement of a senior Cabinet minister, news agency PTI reported.


Before his promotion, Lan assumed the role of Communist Party chief of the finance ministry in late September. Additionally, an official announcement revealed that the National People's Congress (NPC) removed the Minister of Science and Technology, Wang Zhigang, and appointed Yin Hejun to replace him. Wang had held the position of Deputy Minister of Science and Technology since July 2012, ascending to the role of Minister of Science and Technology in March 2018. However, no reasons have been provided for his removal, PTI's report mentioned.


Gen. Li, aged 65, was removed from his posts as State Councillor and National Defence Minister, with Qin Gang also stripped of his role as State Councillor. These decisions were adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, as reported by official Chinese media. As of now, no successor for Gen. Li has been announced.


It's worth noting that both Gen. Li and Qin Gang were known to be close confidants of President Xi Jinping, who selected them for high-ranking positions, bypassing several senior officials in both the foreign and defence ministries. Li, in particular, was the public face of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the supreme command of the PLA, headed by Xi.


The motives behind the removal of Qin, Li, and Liu remain undisclosed. Qin's dismissal was widely speculated to be related to his relationship with a Hong Kong-based Chinese television journalist. On the other hand, Gen. Li was known for his role as a Chinese aerospace engineer and General of the PLA, leading the country's potent missile force, officially named the 'Rocket Force,' before his appointment as Defence Minister.


This significant Cabinet reshuffle also follows a substantial overhaul within the PLA Rocket Force, during which both its commander, Li Yuchao, and political commissar, Xu Zhongbo, were summarily replaced without official explanations. These abrupt changes have stirred concerns among Chinese officials and raised questions regarding the selection process for key positions under President Xi's leadership.


Notably, Li's removal comes just days before the scheduled arrival of a US military delegation in Beijing for a regional security forum hosted by the Chinese military. This event could potentially pave the way for long-overdue high-level military discussions between the two nations.


It's important to remember that ministers in China's one-party system primarily serve as policy enforcers rather than decision-makers. Nevertheless, the removal of Li, Qin, and Liu, who were all State Councillors, is a significant development. Gen. Li's position in the PLA and his sanction by the US in 2018 for the purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 surface-to-air missiles raised questions about his appointment as Defence Minister.


General Li Shangfu Under Investigation For Alleged Corruption: Reports


General Li Shangfu had vanished from public view approximately two months ago, prompting speculation and concerns about his status. Last month, Reuters reported that Li was under investigation for alleged corruption, particularly concerning equipment procurement and development.


In September, Reuters further reported that Chinese authorities had initiated an investigation into Defence Minister Li Shangfu, who had been conspicuously absent from public appearances for over two weeks. This investigation primarily revolves around the procurement of military equipment, with details about the specific equipment purchases under scrutiny remaining undisclosed, the agency's report stated.


Additionally, this probe has expanded to include eight senior officials from the Chinese military's procurement unit, which General Li led from 2017 to 2022. These developments, as reported by two sources cited by Reuters with direct links to the military, are under the jurisdiction of the military's powerful disciplinary inspection commission.


On a related note, the Financial Times, citing U.S. officials, had reported that the U.S. government believes General Li is under investigation. Furthermore, The Wall Street Journal, citing a source familiar with decision-making in Beijing, suggested that Li had been apprehended for questioning.


General Li was last seen in Beijing on August 29, where he delivered a keynote speech at a security forum involving African nations. Earlier in that month, he had undertaken visits to Russia and Belarus, after which his public appearances became sporadic.


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