Li Shangfu is where? For two weeks, China’s defense minister was absent from the public eye

Li Shangfu, China’s minister of defense, hasn’t been seen in public in at least two weeks. The Chinese defense minister hasn’t been seen in the open since giving the opening address at the third China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing.

Li Shangfu’s departure from the public spotlight will spark rumors outside of China. Qin Gang, a close confidante of Chinese President Xi Jinping, was removed from his position as foreign minister along with commanders Li Yuchao and Xu Zhongbo, who were in charge of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, the military division in charge of managing the country’s arsenal of nuclear and ballistic missiles.

During an inspection on Sunday in China’s northeast, Xi Jinping emphasized the necessity for stability and unity among the military. He said that more has to be done to enforce training, manage the soldiers, and maintain a high standard of cohesion, security, and stability.

The absence of authorities like Qin Gang and the generals of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force has been the subject of suspicion, which Rahm Emanuel, the US ambassador to Japan, addressed earlier this month. On X, the social network that replaced Twitter, there were also rumors going around about where Li Shangfu was.

Since the removal of Qin, observers of China have been seeing these odd promotions and demotions in Beijing. China has not given an explanation for these promotions and demotions, as is customary.

In the midst of an investigation into corruption charges connected to the purchase of hardware more than five years ago, Shangfu vanished. The investigation began in July.

The investigation into the PLA’s Equipment Development Department identified eight problems and said that it was looking into examples of “leaking information on projects and army units” as well as instances where certain businesses got assistance in winning contracts.

These problems, which go back to October 2017, are being investigated, according to the Chinese military. According to a Bloomberg article, Li oversaw the equipment division from September 2017 until 2022, although there are no indications that he is under investigation for any misconduct.

Xi Jinping pushed for renewed initiatives to raise military preparedness and develop new fighting capabilities. The deputy chairman of China’s main military organization, Zhang Youxia, traveled with Xi to northeast China.