Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu was fired on Tuesday, becoming the second high-profile minister to lose his job without reason.
His removal marks two months after he disappeared from public view. State broadcaster CCTV reported Tuesday that Li was also removed from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission, a powerful armed forces body led by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and as one of China’s five state councilors, a senior Cabinet position outranking a typical minister.
Li’s removal was approved by the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, CCTV reported. He was appointed to the position of defense minister in March but has not been seen in public since Aug. 29, when he delivered a keynote speech in Beijing. There has been wide speculation that Li became entangled in Xi’s anti-corruption investigations, signaling internal regime tensions.
The Chinese government has repeatedly declined to comment on Li’s whereabouts. However, the Wall Street Journal reported that Li was taken away in September by authorities for questioning, citing a person close to decision-making in China.
The United States sanctioned Li in 2018 following China’s purchase of Russian weapons. Beijing has also repeatedly suggested that the U.S. defense secretary won’t get a meeting with Li unless the sanctions are revoked.
Li is not the first minister to be removed. In July, then-Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed just six months after being tapped for the position. Along with Li, Qin was removed as a state councilor on Tuesday, per CCTV.
The announcement of Li’s removal comes after it was confirmed that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Washington, D.C., and meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken from Thursday to Saturday.
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Wang’s visit is stirring speculation that Xi might make a subsequent trip to the U.S. for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco in November. His presence could set the stage for a meeting with President Joe Biden as tension between the two nations grows.
Prior to Wang’s visit, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will visit the U.S. as part of a landmark deal called AUKUS. The deal is a key move in Biden’s efforts to rally U.S. allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific region to enhance economic competition with China.
