China sacks defence minister who disappeared two months ago
Taipei | China has sacked its Defence Minister, General Li Shangfu, who disappeared from public view two months ago in what experts believe is part of a purge of Xi Jinping’s top ranks.
Chinese state media confirmed the move late on Tuesday as it also announced former foreign minister Qin Gang, who was removed from office in July with no explanation, had also been stripped of his last remaining formal position with the Chinese government.
Former Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in a June photograph. AP
General Li, who was appointed defence minister in March, vanished from public view in late August. But Beijing had not previously confirmed he had been stripped of his rank.
The move of both China’s defence and foreign ministers complicates Beijing’s efforts to mend ties with the US and other countries.
Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles told The Australian Financial Review that he wanted to boost defence communications with China; he declined to comment on General Li’s disappearance.
The Global Times said Mr Qin had also been removed as State Councillor and General Li was also removed as a member of Central Military Commission on Tuesday.
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