China’s Defense Minister, Li Shangfu was removed from his position on Tuesday, marking the second high-profile minister to face dismissal recently, with no official explanation provided for his departure. This move also extended to his state roles as a member of the Central Military Commission, a potent body under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which commands the armed forces, as well as his position as one of China’s five state councillors, a senior role within the cabinet that holds higher rank than a regular minister, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV.
The decision received approval from the standing committee of the National People’s Congress, the country’s rubber-stamp legislature, according to CCTV. However, the committee did not announce a successor to Li, leaving his replacement open to speculation.
Li had been serving as the defense minister since March but had not made any public appearances since late August, sparking widespread speculation about his circumstances.
This event adds to a series of unexplained personnel changes at the highest echelons of China’s government, including the sudden removal of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July. Qin was also stripped of his state councillor role on Tuesday, according to CCTV.
The quick succession of the disappearance and removal of two senior ministers has raised questions about President Xi’s governance approach, which has made China’s political system less transparent while consolidating power and enforcing stricter party discipline. Xi has also intensified efforts to enhance national security, aiming to eliminate perceived threats and vulnerabilities to the ruling Communist Party, particularly amid escalating tensions with Western nations. Li Shangfu was removed
Interestingly, Li’s dismissal has removed a significant obstacle to the resumption of high-level military talks between China and the United States. Li had been sanctioned by the United States in 2018 due to China’s acquisition of Russian weapons. Beijing had consistently suggested that a meeting between the US defense secretary and Li would only be possible if the sanctions were lifted.
It’s worth noting that, in China, the role of defense minister is largely ceremonial, primarily serving as the public face of military diplomacy with other nations. Unlike counterparts in the United States and other countries, the Chinese defense minister lacks operational command authority, which is vested in the Central Military Commission.
Both Li and Qin still maintain their positions within the Communist Party, but analysts speculate that these roles may be subject to removal at an upcoming party meeting later this year.