China has officially removed its defense minister, Li Shangfu, who has not been seen in public since late August. According to state media reports, President Xi Jinping issued a presidential decree to dismiss the 65-year-old Li from his position as defense minister. He has also been relieved of his other political roles, including his role as a state councilor and as a member of the Central Military Commission.
Qin Gang, aged 57, who was previously removed from his position as foreign minister in July, has also lost his role as a state councilor. In the Chinese cabinet, there are five state councilors, and this position holds greater seniority than other ministerial roles.
China’s top legislators, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, approved the removal of both Li and Qin. However, no specific reasons were provided for these removals.
Wang Yi, a seasoned diplomat, had been announced as Qin’s replacement and took over as foreign minister in July. At present, no replacement has been named for Li, who had assumed the role of defense minister in March and was considered a loyalist of President Xi. Li had not been seen in public since he delivered a speech in Beijing on August 29.
The United States imposed sanctions on Li in 2018 due to weapons purchases from Russia, including Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Li declined contact with the US military, and it was reported that these sanctions were causing issues for China-US military exchanges.
While it is not evident whether the disappearances of Qin and Li signal changes in China’s foreign or defense policies, their departures have raised questions about President Xi’s inner circle of power. Xi is known for prioritizing loyalty and has committed to combating corruption in both public and private sectors. This anti-corruption policy has sometimes been seen as a means of eliminating political rivals and solidifying his political position, especially amid economic challenges and increasing tensions with the US.
It remains uncertain whether Li and Qin will face prosecution or other legal consequences. Given China’s opaque political and legal systems and the limited information surrounding the removal of these two former officials, there is speculation about whether the reasons behind their removal are related to corruption or disputes with influential figures. In the past, similar disappearances of officials, like former Industry Minister Xiao Yaqing, have been linked to corruption investigations.
