In a surprising turn of events, China’s defense minister, General Li Shangfu, has been removed from his post under a shroud of speculation, leaving a void in the country’s military leadership. This abrupt dismissal follows a similar fate for the foreign minister, Qin Gang, who was let go in July, raising questions about the opaque rules of power under China’s leader, Xi Jinping.
General Li, who just four months ago represented China’s vision for reshaping the power balance in Asia at a regional forum in Singapore, has now been sidelined, leaving room for speculation about potential investigations into his actions. Authorities in the United States had previously alleged that he was under investigation for corruption.
This sudden change also coincides with a significant shake-up in the leadership of China’s nuclear forces. In late July, President Xi abruptly replaced the top commanders of the Rocket Force, the unit responsible for overseeing both nuclear and conventional missile capabilities. While no official explanation was provided for their removal, Hong Kong news reports have hinted at investigations into corruption within the Rocket Force, which was established by President Xi in 2015.
General Li’s last public appearance dates back to late August when he addressed a forum in Beijing attended by African officials. His removal from office was officially announced by Chinese state media during a session of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, the body responsible for appointing senior government officials.
General Li’s career had long been associated with China’s space and rocket programs, particularly in the development of advanced missile systems, which had garnered attention amid reports of potential corruption probes.
Notably, General Li had previously faced U.S. sanctions due to his involvement in the acquisition of Russian fighter planes and missiles. Diplomatic tensions between the U.S. and China escalated as Washington called for talks between General Li and his American counterpart, conditional upon the removal of sanctions.
The dismissal of two high-ranking ministers without transparent explanations and the ongoing transformations in China’s military leadership underscore the uncertainty surrounding the country’s power dynamics in recent years.
