China: China has officially removed Defense Minister Mr. Li Shangfu from his position after he disappeared from public view in late August.
According to state media, President Mr. Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree to remove Mr. Li Shangfu from his role as defense minister. The 65-year-old diplomat also relinquished his other political positions, such as state councilor and member of the Central Military Commission.
Mr. Qin Gang, aged 57, lost his role as foreign minister in July 2023, and he has now been removed from his position as a state councilor. In the Chinese cabinet, there are five state councilors, and this position holds higher seniority compared to other ministerial roles.
China’s top legislators, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, have given their approval for the removal of both individuals. This decision was reported by the state broadcaster CCTV, but no reasons for their removal were provided.
In July 2023, Mr. Wang Yi was named as Mr. Gang’s replacement and assumed the role of foreign minister. However, no successor has been announced for Mr. Li Shangfu, who took office as defense minister in March 2023 and was considered a loyalist to the President. Mr. Li Shangfu has not been seen since delivering a speech in Beijing on August 29, 2023.
Although there is no clear indication that the vanishings of Mr. Gang and Mr. Li Shangfu signify a shift in China’s foreign or defense strategies, their departures have sparked inquiries into President Mr. Xi’s inner circle of influence.
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