Li Shangfu has Been Removed From His Position
Date : 24th October 2023
Location: Beijing, China
THE SOIL – With the departure of its defence minister on Tuesday, China has lost two high-ranking officials in as many months. This change has raised questions about the stability and unity of the tight circle around Chinese President Xi Jinping.
According to reports from official state agencies, General Li Shangfu, who has been silent for the past two months, has been removed from his positions as state councillor and defence minister.
China recently revealed that Qin Gang, who was removed from his position as foreign minister in July, no longer holds the title of state councillor.
Dismissal of Both Was Approved by Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
The dismissal of both persons was approved by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislative body, according to a report by the state-owned broadcaster CCTV. This decision was approved without further information or justifications.
Li’s replacement is still unknown, leaving a vacuum in the defence leadership of the country as it gets ready to host foreign defence dignitaries at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on 29–31 October.
Li, 65, hasn’t been seen in public since August 29. According to a recent Reuters story, he is the focus of an ongoing investigation because of suspected corruption related to the purchase and development of equipment.
Qin Had An Extramarital Affair While Serving As Ambassador to the USA
March marked the start of his tenure, which also happened to be Xi’s unprecedented third term as the country’s top leader. The person with the shortest tenure as China’s defence minister is Li, who is presently under U.S. sanctions because Beijing bought military hardware and planes from Russia.
Qin was only in office for a little over a year when he disappeared from the public view to make room for Wang Yi, his predecessor. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed sources, revealed that Qin had an extramarital affair while serving as ambassador to the United States, despite the fact that no formal announcement has been made.
Diplomats Concerned About Abrupt Changes in China's Leadership
Diplomats are concerned about the abrupt changes in China’s leadership during a time of slow economic growth and worsening relations with the United States due to a variety of controversial issues. Li and Qin’s sudden disappearances have raised questions among them.
Many who followed Chinese politics believed that Xi Jinping personally chose Li and Qin. Their sudden exit from their roles in less than a year has garnered a lot of attention. Notably, both people were members of China’s five state councils, which are positions of higher rank than typical ministerial duties. They also held prominent, publicly visible roles.