15-9-2023 (WASHINGTON) Chinese Defence Chief Li Shangfu’s mysterious disappearance has raised suspicions and sparked inquiries, with reports suggesting that he is under investigation and may have been placed under house arrest. Li, aged 65, was last seen in Beijing on August 29, where he delivered a keynote address at a security forum focused on African nations.
According to the Financial Times, the US government believes that Li is currently under investigation. The Times also reported that three US officials, along with two individuals familiar with intelligence matters, have confirmed that Li has been relieved of his duties as minister. The Wall Street Journal further reported that he was taken away for questioning and subsequently removed from his post. However, the reasons behind the investigation have not been disclosed in either report.
Rahm Emanuel, the outspoken ambassador of Washington to Japan, expressed his concern on social media, stating that Li had not been seen or heard from in three weeks. He suggested that the minister might have been placed under house arrest. The White House has yet to make any public statement regarding the matter.
The disappearance of Li follows the unexplained vanishing of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was ousted from his position in July. Additionally, China witnessed a change in leadership within its Rocket Force, the branch responsible for overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal. Li Yuchao, the former commander of the Rocket Force, was absent from public view for weeks before the transition, and no official explanation was provided by Xinhua, the state-owned media outlet.
At present, China’s defence ministry has not responded to requests for comment. When asked about Li’s investigation, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that she was not aware of any relevant information. The White House has also refrained from addressing the matter directly, while the US embassy in Tokyo mentioned that it does not have any immediate comments to offer.
Li assumed his role as defence chief in March. Prior to his appointment, he headed the military’s procurement unit. In July, the unit issued a rare notice seeking to rectify irregularities in its bidding process and encouraged the public to report any anomalies dating back to 2017. However, no updates regarding the findings have been provided.
Li’s disappearance is of particular interest to the United States, as sanctions imposed on him in 2018 for purchasing weapons from Russia’s leading arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, have not been lifted. Chinese officials have consistently called for the removal of these sanctions to facilitate improved discussions between the two countries’ militaries. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin attempted to engage in talks with Li during a defense conference in Singapore in June but was unable to progress beyond a handshake. Li has refused to hold meetings with his US counterparts until the sanctions are lifted.
The recent removal of high-ranking Chinese officials from public view has led Ambassador Emanuel, who has been openly critical of Chinese President Xi Jinping, to fuel speculation. On September 7 and again one week later, Emanuel posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, drawing parallels between President Xi’s cabinet lineup and Agatha Christie’s novel “And Then There Were None.” Emanuel openly questioned whether Li’s movements were restricted, noting his absence from scheduled meetings and trips.
Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist at the Australian National University, highlighted that while Li has been an obstacle in US-China military relations, his unexplained absence poses challenges for China’s international relations on various fronts. Other countries may find it difficult to establish military dialogues with China without clarity on who to contact.
Li was expected to attend an annual gathering on defense cooperation hosted by Vietnam near the China-Vietnam border from September 7 to September 8. However, the meeting was postponed after Beijing informed Hanoi that the minister had a “health condition,” according to two Vietnamese officials.
