US Diplomat Raises Concerns Over Absence of Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu

A US diplomat has raised questions about the absence of China's defense minister, Li Shangfu, sparking speculation of a potential corruption purge. General Li has not been seen in public for approximately two weeks and has reportedly missed multiple meetings. US envoy to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, speculated on Mr. Li's absence, suggesting that the "unemployment rate" in the Chinese government was high. This follows recent removals of several top military officials. According to The Wall Street Journal, Mr. Li is being removed from his post. This comes months after the disappearance and replacement of foreign minister Qin Gang, which remains unexplained. When asked about General Li's absence earlier this week, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry claimed to be unaware of the situation. General Li's last public appearance was three weeks ago at a security forum in Beijing. It is not uncommon for defense ministers to be absent from the public eye for a few weeks. General Li, an aerospace engineer, has had a steady rise through the military and Chinese political elite. Similar to Mr. Qin, he is said to be a favorite of President Xi Jinping. He is the second cabinet minister and state councillor to go missing in recent months. Speculation of a corruption purge within the military began in early August when two generals in China's rocket forces were replaced. The president of the army's military court was also removed after a few months. Mr. Emanuel has highlighted General Li's absence and the disappearance of other military officials in his tweets. He suggested that General Li may have been placed under house arrest, comparing the situation to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and Shakespeare's "Hamlet." A Reuters report stated that General Li abruptly pulled out of a meeting with Vietnamese defense leaders due to a "health condition." China's political leadership is often opaque, and the challenges of some of President Xi's decisions are evident. Analysts believe that this recent disappearance demonstrates the continuing corruption within the military despite President Xi's efforts to address it. The disappearances also coincide with increased military activity near Taiwan and tensions in the South China Sea. As the military and foreign ministry play critical roles in China's international interactions, concerns arise over communication, escalation, and crisis management. Mr. Emanuel's tweets, as a high-level US diplomat, are considered unusual but may be intended to elicit a response from China regarding General Li's disappearance.