Unraveling the Mystery: China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu Vanished - In search of the Truth

China's Foreign Ministry declined to answer inquiries regarding the location of the nation's defense minister on Friday. Speculation has been growing that the recently promoted general is being investigated, as he has not been seen in public for over two weeks. This absence has led to speculation about his future, especially in light of the unexpected personnel changes within the senior leadership of China's ruling Communist Party this summer.

According to American officials cited by the Financial Times on Thursday, Li is believed to be under investigation by the US government. The Wall Street Journal also reported that Li was taken away for questioning by Chinese authorities last week, as stated by a person close to the decision-making process in Beijing. Neither report provides a specific reason for the ongoing investigation. When asked about Li's situation during a regular news briefing on Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated, "I am not aware of the situation."

Questions about Li's whereabouts arise following the abrupt removal of Qin Gang as China's foreign minister in late July, a month after his mysterious vanishing from the public eye.

Xi Jinping delivers a speech during a pre-BRICS summit state visit at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023.

Michele Spatari/Bloomberg/Getty Images

China's President Xi surprisingly did not attend an important BRICS event and the reason behind his absence remains unknown. Qin, who served as the foreign minister for a brief seven-month period, has been appointed as the state councillor, a highly esteemed position in China's cabinet that is also held by Li.

Li is still listed as the defense minister, state councillor, and a member of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) on Chinese government and military websites.

This comes following a surprise shake-up in the Chinese military, as in July, the Peoples Liberation Army replaced two leaders of its Rocket Force - a branch that oversees the country's arsenal of nuclear and ballistic missiles. The removed commander had been absent from public view for several months.

CNN is seeking comments from officials in the United States regarding the matter. Additionally, the absence of Li has been observed within diplomatic circles. Last week, Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan, took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to express that Li has not been seen in public for a duration of two weeks.

In his post, Emanuel drew attention to the resemblance between President Xi's cabinet lineup and Agatha Christie's novel "And Then There Were None." He highlighted the disappearance of Foreign Minister Qin Gang, followed by the Rocket Force commanders, and now Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who hasn't been seen in public for two weeks. Using the hashtag "MysteryInBeijingBuilding," Emanuel pointed out the concerning pattern of high-profile minister disappearances.

These successive disappearances have sparked speculation about the governance of leader Xi Jinping. As Xi consolidates power and imposes strict party discipline, China's political system has become even more opaque, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

Drew Thompson, a senior research fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, expressed concern over the removal of both the foreign minister and the defense minister. According to Thompson, this action has occurred without any explanation or consideration for how it will be perceived globally. He believes that this further contributes to the crisis of confidence in China and highlights the lack of transparency and opaque decision-making process in the country.

Before his promotion to defense minister, Li served as the head of the Equipment Development Department within the Chinese Military Commission (CMC) for five years starting from 2017. In this capacity, Li was subject to sanctions by the United States in 2018 due to China's acquisition of Russian weaponry.

In 2019, during a military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, military vehicles transporting DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles passed by Tiananmen Square.

China has unexpectedly replaced its high-ranking nuclear leadership in a significant military reorganization. A recent notice was issued by the Equipment Development Department in late July, requesting the public's assistance in reporting any instances of corrupt procurement practices that occurred from 2017 onwards. It is worth noting that this period coincides with Li's tenure overseeing procurement.

Li was last publicly seen on August 29, delivering a keynote speech at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing. Prior to this, he traveled to Russia and Belarus in mid-August. In Moscow, Li held discussions with his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoigu, emphasizing the exceptional military cooperation between China and Russia. Additionally, Li had a meeting with Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk.

China's defense minister often has fewer public engagements than the foreign minister, so being out of the public eye for two weeks is not uncommon. However, this absence has sparked speculation, especially considering the recent events surrounding Qin's disappearance and dismissal.

According to Vietnamese officials cited by Reuters, Li recently cancelled his participation in the annual meeting with Vietnamese defense leaders along the border between the two countries. Beijing informed Hanoi just days before the event that Li had a "health condition," resulting in the postponement of the gathering. The Vietnamese defense ministry announced during a press conference last month that Li would be leading a Chinese delegation to attend the 8th Border Defense Friendship Exchange on September 7-8. However, there has been no official statement or media report confirming whether the meeting actually occurred.