China ousts Defense Minister Li Shangfu after public absence

Oct. 24 (UPI) -- The Chinese government announced Tuesday that Defense Minister Li Shangfu has been removed from his post.

The National People's Congress made the decision after a series of closed-door meetings, while also dismissing him from his role as a state councilor and expelling him from the Central Military Commission.

Li had acted as a liaison between China and Russia, often visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow.

He also served as director of, China's Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Li oversaw the launch of China's first lunar probe, the Chang'e 2, in 2010.

Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was also stripped of his post as a state councilor on Tuesday, according to the state-backed CCTV.

No explanation was provided for their dismissals, which came after Li had not been seen in public for two months.

The Washington Post reported in September that Li was under investigation over corruption allegations, citing unnamed U.S. defense sources.

Also in September, U.S. Ambassador to China, Rahm Emmanuel, suggested that Li had been placed under house arrest in a post on X.