Jakarta –
Chinese Minister of Defense (Menhan) Li Shangfu reported mysteriously missing after several weeks of not appearing in public. The United States has speculated regarding the disappearance of China’s Defense Minister.
As reported by Reuters, Friday (15/9/2023), 65-year-old Li is scheduled to attend an annual meeting to discuss defense cooperation held by Vietnamese authorities on its border with China. The meeting was planned to be held on September 7-8.
But the meeting was suddenly canceled after Beijing, according to two Vietnamese officials who declined to be named, told Hanoi several days before the event that Li was experiencing ‘health problems’.
The sudden cancellation of the meeting and the reasons given by China were first reported by Reuters.
China’s State Council Information Office, as well as the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the cancellation of the meeting with Vietnam. The Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing has not yet provided an official comment on the incident.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was also removed
The sudden cancellation occurred after China previously experienced similar problems with Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was finally removed and replaced last July, after a long absence from public view.
Not only did they remove Qin, the Chinese authorities also reshuffled the leadership of the Rocket Troop, which is an elite force in the People’s Liberation Army or Chinese military. The situation and steps taken by Beijing have raised questions about the decision making of the country’s leadership.
Also watch the video ‘Indonesian Foreign Minister’s response to China called release of map of annexation of disputed areas’:
(rdp/fas)
2023-09-15 14:34:24
#Uncle #Sams #speculation #disappearance #Chinas #defense #minister #mystery
