China carried out a major ministerial reshuffle on Tuesday, including sacking its defense minister and former foreign minister, who were still in government posts, without immediately explaining the changes, Rador Radio quoted Le Point as saying. Romania.

Minister of Defense of the People’s Republic of China Li ShangfuPhoto: Ichiro Ohara/AP/Profimedia

Li Shangfu, who had been in office since March, had been “removed” from his post at the defense ministry, state broadcaster CCTV said, citing a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress.

The channel did not give a reason for the dismissal, which was supported by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and did not name a successor.

Li Shangfu’s last public appearance was on August 29. The former defense minister visited Russia and Belarus a few weeks ago in mid-August.

In September, the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, said on social media that the minister had “not been seen or heard from for three weeks”.

The US government believes China’s defense minister is under investigation by authorities and has been removed from his post, the British daily Financial Times reported, citing three US officials.

This dismissal of the defense minister followed a reshuffle at the head of the Chinese military unit responsible for strategic missiles, especially nuclear ones.

In July, authorities announced the appointment of a new head of the unit without explaining the change, while media reported a corruption investigation involving the former chief, who has not been seen in public for weeks.

“There are rumors that Li Shangfu was involved in a corruption case when he headed the General Armaments Department,” analyst Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center in Washington, told AFP. “We don’t know who will be the new defense minister,” Sun said.

“Next week in Beijing, China will host the Xianghsan Forum. The personality of the Chinese host may (for now) provide some clues,” she said, referring to a major security meeting traditionally attended by China’s defense minister. Appointed to this position seven months ago, Li Shangfu suddenly disappeared from the public scene.

The same thing happened in June with Qin Gan, then the foreign minister. Promoted in December and also perceived as an ally of President Xi, he was fired in late July without explanation after he also disappeared for several weeks.