CNBC：China reportedly ousts defense minister after two-month

来源: 于 2023-10-24 07:04:41 [博客] [旧帖] [给我悄悄话] 本文已被阅读：次

China reportedly ousts defense minister after two-month absence

KEY POINTS
  • China has removed General Li Shangfu from the post of defense minister and state councilor without appointing a replacement, state media CCTV reported.
  • His dismissal was announced Tuesday through an order of China’s legislative body, the National People’s Congress.
 

China's former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu salutes the audience on June 4, 2023.

China’s former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu salutes the audience on June 4, 2023.
Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty Images

The Chinese government removed General Li Shangfu from the post of defense minister and state councilor without appointing a replacement, state media CCTV reported Tuesday.

His dismissal was announced through an order of China’s legislative body, the National People’s Congress. No explanation was given for his removal.

 

Li, who was appointed to lead China’s defense ministry during a broader cabinet reshuffle in March, has not been seen in public for the past two months, according to Reuters.

Reuters also reported that Li, 65, faced a corruption probe over the procurement of military equipment — which CNBC could not independently confirm. Renown for valuing loyalty, Chinese President Xi Jinping has unleashed a drove of anti-corruption campaigns against all levels of the Chinese Communist Party, targeting both “tigers and flies” — referring to officials both petty and grand.

An aerospace engineer who began his career at China’s Rocket Launch Center, Li has smoothly risen through the ranks, with promotions that included membership of the Central Military Commission — the country’s highest national defense organization — since 2022.

Li is the second high-profile minister from Xi’s administration to be removed amid a storm of speculation. In July, Qin Gang — who was also stripped of his authority as state councilor on Tuesday — was dismissed from his role as foreign minister after a one-month absence.