China’s Defense Minister Has Not Been Seen in Weeks

“China’s defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, has not been seen in public in more than two weeks, fueling speculation about further upheaval in the military after the abrupt removal of two top commanders in charge of the country’s nuclear force,” the New York Times reports.

Washington Post: “The expected purge of Li, who has been noticeably absent from public view for the past two weeks, in the wake of other dismissals will heighten a sense of uncertainty over how China’s day-to-day foreign policy is being managed. It will also further call into question Xi’s leadership as he consolidates power.”

Related from the Financial Times: Xi Jinping turns anti-corruption focus to China’s military.