Li Shangfu's Dismissal Good For US-China Dialogue?

2023-10-25 07:38:46

(MENAFN- Asia Times) China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu was dismissed from his position on Tuesday after he disappeared from public life for two months, reportedly due to corruption probes.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee made the decision without giving a reason. It did not immediately announce Li's successor but most observers believe that Liu Zhenjiang, chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), will take charge of the Ministry of National Defense.

China has refused to have defense talks with the US since then US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022.

In May this year, Beijing declined a request from Washington for a meeting between Li and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It blamed the US for having sanctioned Li over China's purchases of Russian combat aircraft and arms since 2018.

From this point of view, the replacement of Li may help the US and China resume defense dialogues, said some Chinese commentators.

It is expected that China's new defense chief or at least a candidate will give an opening speech at the country's regional security dialogue, the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, on October 29-31.

The US will send a delegation led by Cynthia Xanthi Carras, country director for China in the office of the undersecretary of defense for policy, to attend the forum, according to the China Daily.

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