Speculation Grows Over of China Defense Minister Not Seen in Public

China – The China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu has reportedly not been seen in public for more than three weeks. 

Britain's Financial Times newspaper reported on Friday last week that the United States believes 65-year-old Li has been removed from his duties and is under investigation by Chinese authorities.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Li had pulled out of a meeting with Vietnamese defense officials a week ago.

Speculation over Li's whereabouts arose after Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang's sudden disappearance in July. It was later announced that he had been removed from his post, it was reported on Monday. 

Li Shangfu was born in February 1958, the son of a high-ranking People's Liberation Army (PLA) commander who survived the Long March and later fought in the Korean War.

According to Chinese media, he graduated from the PLA National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in 1982 and was later awarded a master's degree in engineering. He was stationed for more than 30 years at the military's Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

In 2016, Li was appointed deputy commander of the military's new Strategic Support Force, an elite body tasked with accelerating the development of space and cyber warfare capabilities. The following year, he was appointed head of the military's procurement unit.

Visibly loyal to President Xi Jinping, Li became defense minister in March.

Although he is a general, his own post mainly involves defense diplomacy, and Li's attendance at the annual Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in June was closely watched.

Li is one of five State Counsellors, a Chinese cabinet position that carries a higher level of seniority than ordinary ministers.

Washington imposed sanctions on Li in 2018 for buying weapons from Russia's largest arms exporter, Rosoboronexport. 

He has refused to hold meetings with the United States officials until the sanctions are lifted, and an attempt by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to hold talks at an event in Singapore "only" resulted in a handshake.