Second ousting of senior leader in three months
AMN / WEB DESK
Gen. Li Shangfu, who had been appointed China’s defense minister in March, was dismissed from his post after being out of public view for nearly two months. He is the second senior official to be purged from the government this year without explanation and under a cloud of suspicion.
According to state media, General Li Shangfu, who has been absent from public view for two months, was dismissed as defence minister and state councillor. China also announced that Qin Gang, who was removed as foreign minister in July, was stripped of his state councillor position.
There is no word on who might replace Li as defense minister, but whoever does will likely play a major role in talks with the U.S. if the two sides restart high-level military contacts.