Secrets Unveiled: Shocking Revelation Behind China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu's Mysterious Vanishing Act

China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu was dismissed on Tuesday, two months after he vanished from public sight. This makes him the second prominent minister to lose his position recently without any official clarification. Additionally, Li was relieved of his roles as a member of the Central Military Commission, which is headed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping and oversees the armed forces, as well as his position as one of China's five state councilors, a senior position in the cabinet that outranks a regular minister, as reported by state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday.

According to CCTV, the approval of the decision was granted by the standing committee of the rubber-stamp legislature of the country, the National People's Congress. Li, who assumed the position of defense minister in March, has been absent from public view since late August, leading to heightened speculation regarding his destiny.

The general's sudden vanishing comes after a succession of mysterious changes in personnel that have caused upheaval among the top officials of the country. Among these, the dramatic removal of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July stands out.

According to CCTV, Qin was also stripped of his position as a state councilor on Tuesday.

The successive disappearance and dismissal of two high-ranking ministers have prompted concerns about Xi's governance. As he centralizes power and enforces strict party discipline, he has made China's political system even more veiled. Concurrently, Xi has intensified efforts to strengthen national security, aiming to eradicate any perceived risks and weaknesses that may challenge the ruling Communist Party amidst escalating tensions with the Western world.

Li's removal from office has unexpectedly cleared the way for China and the United States to resume high-level military discussions. In 2018, the US imposed sanctions on Li due to China's acquisition of Russian weaponry. Beijing has consistently indicated that the US defense secretary would not be granted a meeting with Li unless the sanctions were lifted.

Vice chairmen and members of the Central Military Commissionof pledge allegiance to the Chinese constitution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11.

Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images/File

Unexplained disappearance

Weeks prior to Li's disappearance, Xi gathered the highest-ranking military officials in Beijing for a crucial meeting. During this assembly, he stressed the significance of political loyalty, discipline, and the party's unwavering control over the armed forces. Soon after this gathering, Xi took action by removing the two prominent generals from the PLA Rocket Force—a distinguished unit responsible for overseeing the country's nuclear and ballistic missile arsenal. This particular event raised concerns of a potential wider elimination of individuals within the military.

The Chinese government has consistently refused to provide any comments regarding Li's whereabouts and the reasons for his absence. According to an individual with knowledge of the decision-making process in Beijing, The Wall Street Journal reported that Li was detained in September and is currently being questioned by authorities.

The US government has reportedly placed the defense minister under investigation, according to American officials, as reported by The Financial Times. However, no reason for the investigation was given in either of the reports. When questioned about this last month, a spokesperson from the Defense Ministry claimed to be unaware of the situation.

It is uncertain whether any disciplinary measures have been implemented or are being considered against Li.

Li, who is 65 years old, gained experience at one of China's primary satellite-launch facilities located in the province of Sichuan in the southwest. He gradually advanced in his career until he eventually held the position of director.

In 2013, after working at the launch center for three decades, he was promoted to the PLAs headquarters on armaments. This promotion coincided with Xi's rise to power. It is believed that Li is a protege of General Zhang Youxia, who is not only Xi's childhood friend but also his closest ally in the military. Zhang's promotion to first vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) during the recent leadership reshuffle, despite being beyond the unofficial retirement age, is a clear indication of his significant position.

From 2017 to 2022, Li assumed responsibility for China's weapon procurement as the leader of the Equipment Development Department under the CMC. This position was previously held by Zhang.

In July, just before the sudden removal of the two top generals in Rocket Force, the Equipment Development Department initiated a new effort to combat corrupt procurement practices. They encouraged individuals to report any suspicious activities dating back to 2017, which aligns with the period when Li assumed leadership of the department.

Li was last seen publicly on August 29th while delivering a keynote speech at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing. His most recent international trip took place in mid-August when he visited Russia and Belarus.