2023-10-24 23:11:00
Game of musical chairs: China carried out a vast ministerial reorganization on Tuesday, notably dismissing its Minister of Defense and removing its former Minister of Foreign Affairs who still retained a title in the government, without immediately explaining these changes. Li Shangfu, in office since March, was “removed” from his position at the Defense Ministry, state television CCTV reported, tersely citing a decision by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress.
The channel gave no reason for this dismissal, endorsed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and did not put forward any name for his successor. Li Shangfu’s last public appearance was on August 29. The now ex-Minister of Defense had visited Russia and Belarus a few weeks earlier, in mid-August.
In September, the United States Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, said on social media that the minister had “not been seen or heard from in three weeks.” The American government understands that the Chinese Minister of Defense is the subject of an investigation by the authorities and that he has been removed from his functions, wrote the British business daily Financial Times, citing three American officials.
“Corruption case”
This dismissal of the Minister of Defense comes after a reshuffle at the head of the Chinese army unit responsible for strategic missiles, particularly nuclear ones. In July, the authorities announced that they were giving this unit new leadership without explaining the change, while the media reported a corruption investigation involving its former head, who had not been seen in public for weeks.
“There are rumors circulating that Li Shangfu was involved in a corruption case when he was head of the General Armaments Department,” analyst Sun Yun, director of the Program, told AFP. China at the Stimson Center in Washington. “We do not know who the new Minister of Defense will be,” noted Ms. Sun.
“China will host the Xianghsan forum next week in Beijing. The identity of the Chinese host could (however) provide some clues,” she noted, referring to an important meeting on security issues in which the Chinese Minister of Defense traditionally takes part. Appointed to this position seven months ago, Li Shangfu suddenly disappeared from the public scene.
The same thing happened in June to Qin Gang, then Minister of Foreign Affairs. Promoted to this position in December and also perceived as an ally of President Xi, he was fired at the end of July without any explanation, after also disappearing for several weeks.
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