China’s Top Defense Official Disappears From Public View

Following the mysterious absence and replacement of China’s former foreign minister, Defense Minister Li Shangfu has vanished from public view.

China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu delivers a speech during the 20th Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 4, 2023. Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images

Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu has not been publicly seen for the past two weeks, fueling discussions on social media about his whereabouts and the Chinese Communist Party’s power struggles.

As of Wednesday, Gen. Li hasn’t been heard from publicly for 15 days. His last public appearance was on Aug. 29, when he addressed a security forum and held talks with visiting defense ministers from Ghana, Zambia, and several other African countries.