"Unanswered Questions Surround China's Missing Defence Minister"

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu abruptly canceled his attendance at a meeting with Vietnamese defence leaders, citing a "health condition," according to Vietnamese officials. This comes after Li's more than two-week absence from public view, raising questions about the Chinese leadership's decision-making. Li's cancellation follows the unexplained replacement of Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July and a shake-up in the leadership of the People's Liberation Army's Rocket Force. The prolonged absence of key officials has drawn attention and speculation. China's leadership under President Xi Jinping has been known for its lack of transparency.