BREAKING: Defence Minister Removed In Major Cabinet Reshuffle (DETAILS)

In a significant shakeup of its top leadership, China has removed Defence Minister Li Shangfu and ousted former Foreign Minister Qin Gang from their cabinet, as reported by state media on Tuesday.

This move follows months of speculation surrounding the country’s cabinet, including the abrupt removal of Qin from office in July without explanation, and the prolonged absence of Li from public view. Both Qin and Li were reportedly handpicked for their roles by President Xi Jinping.

File photo: China’s President Xi Jinping. Mark Schiefelbein / POOL / AFP

State broadcaster CCTV announced these removals in its regular evening broadcast but did not provide reasons for their dismissal. No replacement for Li as Defence Minister was announced.

Earlier reports had suggested that the US government believed Li was under investigation and had been relieved of his ministerial duties. However, China had declined to comment on the matter.

Li had traveled to Russia in August to participate in a security conference near Moscow on August 15.

Just two days later, the government of Belarus released photographs of Li meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk. Since then, he has remained out of public view.

With Li’s confirmed removal, there is now no apparent host for China’s regional security dialogue next week, the Xiangshan Forum, which was scheduled to be attended by representatives from the US Department of Defense.

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