INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
China has replaced Defense Minister Gen
Li Shangfu, who has been out of public view for almost two months, state media reported Tuesday
No further information was given.Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin
Gang, who was removed from office in July with no explanation offered.Li, who became defense minister during a Cabinet reshuffle in March,
valuing loyalty above all and has relentlessly attacked corruption in public and private, sometimes in what has been seen as a method of
eliminating political rivals and shoring up his political position amid a deteriorating economy and rising tensions with the United States
over trade, technology and Taiwan.Li is under United States sanctions related to his overseeing weapon purchases from Russia that bar him
from entering the country
China has since cut off contacts with the United States military, mainly in protest over United States arms sales to Taiwan, but also
strongly implying that Washington must lift the measures against Li, which Beijing refuses to publicly recognize.The announcement from state
That virtually assures the end of their political careers, although it remains unclear whether they will face prosecution or other legal
political and legal systems remain highly opaque, fueling lively discussion of possible corruption, personal foibles or fallings-out with
other powerful figures leading to the downfall of top officials.Along with dealing with what appear to be internal political issues, the
high unemployment among college graduates and a movement of many of its wealthiest and best educated to more liberal societies abroad.Having
Xi has structured the system so that he may stay in power for the rest of his life
with more than 2 million personnel on active duty.Source: Associated Press-Agencies
