POLITICSCHINA
China removes missing defense minister from office
41 minutes ago41 minutes ago
General Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for almost two months. He is the second senior Chinese leader removed from office in months.
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Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu
Li only became defense minister in MarchImage: Vincent Thian/AP Photo/picture alliance
Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu was removed from office, state media reported on Tuesday.
No reason was given for Li’s removal and no replacement was announced.
Li had not appeared in public since August 29, when he gave a speech at a Chinese-African peace forum.
He is the second senior leader to be ousted. Foreign Minister Qin Gang was abruptly removed from office without explanation in July.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, both were also stripped of positions as state councillors.
Li reportedly investigated for corruption
Li, 65, had only been in the job since March.
The Reuters news agency reported last month that he was being investigated for suspected corruption related to equipment procurement and development.
Chinese politics experts say President Xi Jinping handpicked both Li and Qin.
It makes their removal less than a year on the job particularly notable and raises questions about the stability of the leadership team around Xi.
lo/wr (AFP, AP, Reuters)
