Li Shangfu, who has not appeared in public since the end of August, is likely to have been fired, the Financial Times said.
China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who disappeared from view, was the subject of an investigation and was dismissed from his post. The US government thinks so, reports the Financial Times.
Three US officials, as well as two intelligence officials, said in media comments that the United States had determined that Lee had been removed from his ministry duties.
Lee traveled to Russia in August to attend a security conference near Moscow on August 15. Two days later, the Belarusian government released photos of Lee’s meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.
He was last seen in Beijing on August 29, when he delivered a keynote speech at a security forum involving African countries.
Previously, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang disappeared and was removed from his post without explanation in July. Price, along with Li, is one of the five members of the Chinese State Council. This position in the Cabinet of Ministers is higher than an ordinary minister.
The moves have raised questions among analysts and diplomats about a lack of transparency in China’s leadership at a time when its economy is slowing and its relationship with the United States is weakening.
China also in July replaced the head of its missile force, the army unit that controls its nuclear arsenal, with Li Yuchao. The latter did not appear in public for several weeks.
As we have already written, on August 16, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shanfu arrived on an official visit to Belarus.
Source: korrespondent
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