Former Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu removed from Central Military Commission as downfall gathers pace

Li was abruptly dismissed last year for reasons that have not been made public and his name has now been removed from the members of the top command body

Last year also saw a number of senior PLA generals being removed from their positions, including the leadership of the Rocket Force

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Li Shangfu disappeared from public view in August. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 5:25pm, 27 Feb 2024Updated: 6:41pm, 27 Feb 2024

China’s former defence minister Li Shangfu has been removed from a key military command body, according to the defence ministry’s website.

The website still listed Li as a member of the Communist Party’s Central Military Commission late last week, but it was not there on Tuesday.

It is not clear when exactly his name was removed, and Beijing has not made any public announcements about his removal or explained when the decision was taken.

Li, who had not been seen in public since late August, was removed as defence minister and state councillor without explanation at a meeting of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee in October last year. He had only been in the post for months.

The Central Military Commission is a parallel system for the party and the state, with the same membership. Li had already been removed from the state CMC in October.