Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu does not attend meeting, continuing public absence
- Li is one of three officials who do not attend a meeting of the Central Military Commission
- The minister has not been seen since August 29, when he delivered a speech at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing
Beijing remained silent about the absence of Defence Minister Li Shangfu on Saturday as speculation about his whereabouts intensified.
Li, the public face of China’s military, was conspicuously missing from a major military meeting on Friday, according to footage aired on the state broadcaster CCTV, extending an unexplained public absence now in its third week.
Li’s name was also not included in a report by state news agency Xinhua on the meeting. His continued disappearance from public view has raised questions about the whereabouts of the general and his political future.
Li also missed a meeting with senior Vietnamese defence officials scheduled on September 7 and 8. At that time, Reuters quoted Vietnamese officials saying that Li’s absence was due to “health reasons”.
The last public appearance of Li, 65, was at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing on August 29, when he delivered a keynote speech.
02:49
Big political questions linger after China abruptly replaces its foreign minister
Li’s disappearance follows the unexplained weeks of absence this summer by then foreign minister Qin Gang, including missing out an international summit due to “health reasons”. Qin was replaced as foreign minister in July by his predecessor, Wang Yi.
