Chinese Defense Minister's Unexplained Absence Fuels Speculation of Political Turmoil
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Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has been conspicuously absent from recent key military meetings, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts and political future.
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Li, a public face of China's military, missed a major meeting on Friday and a scheduled meeting with Vietnamese officials earlier this month.
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Li's disappearance follows the unexplained absence this summer of then-Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was replaced in his role.
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U.S. officials have claimed Li is facing some political trouble, but China has provided no official explanation for his absence.
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Li's disappearance comes amid other recent shake-ups in China's military leadership, including a sudden change of command in the PLA Rocket Force.
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