Out of the picture: Li’s absence has not been officially explained, though Reuters reported last month that he was under investigation for corrupt procurement of military equipment in a previous role. — Reuters
GENERAL Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China’s combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender to replace the country’s defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter.
The appointment of Liu to replace Defence Minister Li Shangfu – which one of the people said was likely to happen before Beijing holds an international security forum later this month – could boost military engagement with the United States amid regional tensions, said three military analysts.
Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role.
China has demanded the curbs – which include a visa ban and prohibitions on conducting US financial transactions – be lifted.
Liu, 59, is not under Western sanctions.
Currently the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Liu was described as Li’s likely replacement by a person with direct knowledge of the matter, as well as two people close to the military and two regional officials with close knowledge of Chinese politics.
A US Department of Defence spokesperson declined to comment on Liu’s possible appointment but said the US “continues to believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication” with China.
Li’s absence has not been officially explained, though Reuters reported last month that he was under investigation for corrupt procurement of military equipment in a previous role.
If his departure is confirmed, Li will be the second senior minister to lose his job in recent months.
It is unclear whether Li will retain his position as one of China’s five state councillors, a post outranking a regular minister. Any decision to improve military-to-military ties – frozen by Beijing when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022 – would be made by President Xi Jinping, who has the ultimate say in all important policies and appointments.Xi is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and chair of the CMC, China’s top defence decision-making body, on which Liu already sits. — Reuters
