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China's stability in question after the dismissal of the Minister of Defense

2023-10-24 22:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

China's stability in question after the dismissal of the Minister of

China sacked its defense minister on Tuesday, the second top official to leave in three months, raising questions about the stability of President Xi Jinping's cabinet.

General Li Shangfu, who had not been seen in public for two months, was dismissed as defense minister and adviser, Chinese state media reported.

China also announced that Qin Gang, who was fired as foreign minister in July, was also relieved of his adviser post.
Top lawmakers of the National People's Congress approved the removal of the two officials, state broadcaster CCTV reported, without giving further details.

No replacement was appointed for the post left vacant by Mr Li, meaning China is without a defense minister as it prepares to welcome foreign defense officials to a regional security dialogue to be held in Beijing between 29 -October 31.
Mr. Li last appeared publicly on August 29. Reuters news agency reported last month that Mr. Li was under investigation for corruption.

He held office for only a few months, after being appointed in March. Mr Li, who has been sanctioned by the United States over purchases of Russian fighter jets and advanced missile systems, is China's shortest-serving defense minister.
Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang held office for less than a year before stepping down and being replaced by Wang Yi. No official explanation has been given for his dismissal, but the Wall Street Journal quoted sources as saying Mr. Qin had an extramarital affair while serving as ambassador to the United States.

The two officials' failure to appear publicly and their dismissal have raised questions among diplomats about the sudden changes in China's leadership at a time when the country's economic growth is slow and relations with the United States have been strained over a range of issues.

The two officials were seen by Chinese political analysts as hand-picked by President Xi, making their absence especially noticeable after less than a year in office. They held senior roles and were widely exposed to public opinion and also served as advisers to China's State Council, a position that exceeds the powers of the minister./ VOA