Arr, Xi Jinping be removin' a scurvy general in a corruption inquiry, say those cheeky US officials. Yo ho ho!
2023-09-15
Arrr, ye scurvy dogs! The bootin' o' Gen. Li Shangfu from his China defense minister post be followin' the same fate as two other generals from the PLA's Rocket Force and Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
U.S. officials believe that Chinese General Li Shangfu has been removed from his post and placed under investigation due to a possible corruption purge in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). This conclusion is based on information provided by three U.S. officials and two individuals briefed on the intelligence. The investigation into Li relates to the procurement of military equipment and includes eight senior officials from the military's procurement unit. The probe is being led by the military's disciplinary inspection commission.U.S. Ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, humorously commented on the situation, comparing it to Shakespeare's famous quote, "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." He also speculated that Li's absence may be due to him being placed on house arrest and joked about his alleged payment of his mortgage with real estate developers.
Li, who was appointed as defense minister in March, has not been publicly seen since August 29. International officials have speculated that his disappearance may be related to Chinese President Xi Jinping's efforts to strengthen his position and root out corruption.
The removal of several high-ranking military officials, including the replacement of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang, has raised questions about Xi's position and judgment. The anti-corruption push is seen as an effort to ensure the PLA's loyalty to Xi and his party. Xi has pursued anti-corruption efforts against targets in various sectors in China.
The Chinese defense ministry spokesperson emphasized that the military has "zero-tolerance for corruption" but did not deny that the commanders were under investigation. The U.S. State Department did not provide a comment on the situation.