Missing In Action: China's Defence Minister's Disappearance Raises Questions

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has been conspicuously absent from public view for the past two weeks, fueling speculation about his whereabouts and status.

This development coincides with the commencement of President Xi Jinping's third term in office, which has witnessed a series of unexpected personnel changes, including the replacement of Foreign Minister Qin Gang and the dismissal of a high-ranking official from the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force.

Li assumed his role on the Central Military Commission in October of the previous year and took office as defence minister in March. His last known public appearance was during a speech delivered at the China-Africa Peace and Security Forum in Beijing on 29 August.

A government official from the United States suggested that Li's prolonged absence may be linked to allegations of corruption, as reported by Asia Nikkei.

"The longstanding issue of corruption within the Chinese military remains a challenge that President Xi grapples with, potentially impacting his broader objectives," remarked the official.

On 8 September, Rahm Emanuel, the US Ambassador to Japan, commented on X (formerly Twitter), drawing a parallel between President Xi's recent cabinet reshuffle and Agatha Christie's novel, 'And Then There Were None.'

In 2018, Li was added to a list of sanctioned Chinese officials by the US State Department, citing China's weapons transactions with Russia as the grounds for the sanctions.

China has vehemently called for the removal of these sanctions and has refrained from engaging in bilateral meetings between the defence leaders of both countries.