China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu Removed in Surprise Cabinet Shake-Up

China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu has been fired and removed from his state positions after a two-month disappearance from public view, making him the second high-profile minister to lose his job without explanation. The decision was approved by the National People's Congress, and no successor has been named. Li's dismissal, along with the recent ousting of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, raises questions about the governance of Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the country's political system. Li's removal may facilitate the resumption of high-level military talks between China and the United States. The defense minister's role in China is largely ceremonial, and Li and Qin may face further removal from their positions within the Communist Party.