A high-ranking US diplomat wonders why China’s defense minister, Li Shangfu, wasn’t there, sparking talk of a potential anti-corruption action.
A high-ranking US diplomat, Rahm Emanuel, has raised questions about the absence of China’s Defense Minister, General Li Shangfu. This has led to speculation about a possible anti-corruption crackdown within the Chinese government.
General Li has not been seen in public for nearly two weeks and has reportedly missed several important meetings. The US envoy to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, expressed his concerns on Twitter, suggesting that there might be a high turnover of officials in the Chinese government.
This absence follows the recent removal of several top military officials, and sources from both the US and China have reported that General Li is being removed from his position. This situation is reminiscent of the disappearance and replacement of Foreign Minister Qin Gang earlier in the year, which remains unexplained.
The Chinese government has not provided much information regarding General Li’s absence. When questioned about it, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman claimed to be unaware of the situation.
General Li’s last public appearance was at a security forum with African nations in Beijing on August 29. It’s not uncommon for defense ministers to be out of the public eye for a few weeks.
General Li, who started his career as an aerospace engineer, has risen through the ranks and is known to be a favorite of President Xi Jinping. He is the second cabinet minister and state councilor, after Mr. Qin, to go missing in recent months.
Speculation about a potential anti-corruption purge began in early August when two generals in China’s rocket forces were replaced, along with the president of the army’s military court, shortly after his appointment.
Rahm Emanuel’s tweets drew attention to General Li’s absence and compared it to famous literary mysteries like Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” and Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.” Emanuel also suggested that General Li might be under house arrest.
Reports from Vietnamese officials indicated that General Li canceled a meeting with Vietnamese defense leaders due to a “health condition.” Singapore’s navy chief, who visited China, met with military officials but has not confirmed Emanuel’s claims.
Mr. Qin’s disappearance, which has lasted for nearly three months, was also attributed to “health conditions” and is widely believed to be linked to an anti-corruption campaign. He has since been removed from his post.
Chinese officials usually don’t miss important meetings due to health reasons because they regularly undergo thorough medical checks. General Li Shangfu has faced controversy before. In 2018, he was sanctioned by the US for China’s purchases of Russian military equipment. These sanctions led to a disagreement when he declined to meet his US counterpart earlier this year.
This situation highlights the lack of transparency in Chinese politics and raises questions about some of President Xi’s decisions. While these disappearances and potential corruption investigations may not directly threaten President Xi’s leadership, they are not a positive reflection on the current leadership he has approved.
The Chinese military has a history of corruption, and President Xi, who also serves as the supreme leader of China’s military, has been working to address this issue, much like his predecessors. However, it’s surprising that after over a decade in power, high-level corruption still persists, and this responsibility can’t be shifted to past leaders.
These disappearances come at a time of increased military activity near Taiwan and tensions in the South China Sea. This may raise concerns about communication, escalation, and crisis management, particularly since the military and foreign ministry play crucial roles in China’s international interactions.
The tweets from US diplomat Rahm Emanuel are unusual for someone in his position, especially considering Japan’s sensitive relationship with China. It’s possible he has approval from the White House to draw attention to General Li’s absence in this manner. Dr. Chong suggests that Emanuel might be trying to provoke a response from China regarding the disappearance.
SOURCE: BBC