Chinese President Xi Jinping has signed a decree to dismiss Defense Minister Li Shangfu, China’s central television has said.
Presidential decree No. 14 says Li has been removed from the posts of a member of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and Minister of National Defense in accordance with a decision made during the sixth session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress on October 24, 2023, the broadcaster said.
The appointment of a new minister has not yet been announced.
Last time Li appeared in public on August 29 to address the 3rd China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing. The Financial Times quoted sources as saying that Li may have been suspended and was being investigated. Chinese Foreign Ministry and Defense Ministry officials said they were unaware of the situation.
Li was absent from the reception on the occasion of the main public holiday – China’s National Day, which is celebrated on October 1. His predecessor, former Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe (in office 2018-2023), was also absent.
No replacement for Li was named, leaving the country without a Defence Minister as it prepares to host foreign defence officials at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum on October 29-31.
Earlier, Hong Kong’s daily South China Morning Post quoted sources as saying that Liu Zhenli, the chief of the Joint Staff of China’s Central Military Council, could be appointed Defense Minister.
He had only been in the job since March, when Xi started his precedent-breaking third term as head of state. Li, who is under U.S. sanctions over Beijing’s purchase of combat aircraft and equipment from Russia, is China’s shortest-serving Defence Minister.
China also announced that Qin Gang, who was removed as Foreign Minister in July, was stripped of his State Councillor position.
Qin had also served less than a year before he disappeared from public view and was replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi. No formal explanation has been given but the Wall Street Journal cited sources saying Qin had an extra-marital affair while he was ambassador to the United States.