Sudden leadership changes in China: Defence Minister Li Shangfu, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang ousted
By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 24, 2023, 6:10 PM ISTThis decision follows weeks of speculation about General Li Shangfu, who has faced sanctions from the United States. He had not made any public appearances since the end of August, further fueling rumors about his political future.
In a significant political development, China announced the removal of General Li Shangfu from his position as the country's defence minister, marking the second major leadership shake-up within a span of just three months. Additionally, ex-foreign minister Qin Gang was also removed from the State Council. The official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, reported that Beijing did not provide an official explanation for General Li's removal, and as of now, no successor has been named.
This decision follows weeks of speculation about General Li Shangfu, who has faced sanctions from the United States. He had not made any public appearances since the end of August, further fueling rumors about his political future.
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The National People's Congress Standing Committee approved the removal of General Li Shangfu, making him the second minister to be abruptly replaced since President Xi Jinping began his unprecedented third term in October of the previous year. Qin Gang faced a similar situation when he was replaced as the foreign minister in July, giving way to his predecessor, Wang Yi. The exact reasons for these removals remain undisclosed.
General Li Shangfu's removal from his post coincided with an upcoming regional security forum, which had the potential to facilitate high-level military dialogues between the United States and China.
General Li Shangfu, aged 65, not only served as the defence minister but also represented the public face of China's People's Liberation Army. He was a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which acts as the ruling body of the PLA. Within the CMC, General Li's rank was only exceeded by Chairman Xi, Vice-Chairmen Zhang Youxia, and He Weidong.
It remains unclear whether the removal of General Li Shangfu signals more significant changes within China's military, which is currently undergoing an ambitious modernization process. President Xi Jinping has set the ambitious goal of making the PLA a world-leading fighting force by the year 2049, effectively reaching parity with the United States.
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