In the past few recent months, a large number of high-profile Chinese figures have been mysteriously disappearing. Now, the number to that list has grown by one as the former defense minister of China, Li Shangfu, has vanished. Shangfu was reportedly removed from his post and is under questioning by Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities.
This disappearance adds to a list of other politicians and businessmen who have disappeared in recent history – some reappearing while others remain missing.
One such example is Qin Gang, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of China. Considered a rising star in Chinese politics and a close ally to president Xi Jinping.
Qin had previously served as Ambassador to the United States from July 2021 to 2022, and was then promoted to foreign minister position in late 2022 according to the Washington Post.
Qin was last seen in public on June 25 while meeting Russian, Vietnamese and Sri Lankan diplomats in Beijing.
Throughout the rest of June and part of July he was absent from all meetings due to unspecified “health reasons” – with his predecessor Wang Yi attending them instead.
After weeks without any news about him he was dismissed from his role as foreign minister after just half a year in office – with no explanation given by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee as why this happened.
Following this announcement there was almost no mention or comment on it by Chinese state media instead choosing to praise Xi Jinping’s “passion” for sports and athletic skills instead.
While there are multiple theories around what could have happened one unproven theory alleges that Qin had an affair which violated “social morality and family virtues” rules according Rahm Emanuel U.S ambassador for Japan who tweeted about it saying “President Xi’s cabinet lineup now resembles Agatha Christie’s novel ‘And Then There Were None’. First Foreign Minister Qin Gang goes missing, then the Rocket Force commanders go missing, and now Defense Minister Li Shangfu hasn’t been seen in public for two weeks”.
He added “Who’s going to win this unemployment race? China’s youth or Xi’s cabinet?”.
Since disappearing on June 25th there has been no further information about him or where he currently is apart from his name being scrubbed off the internet entirely with Wang taking back over as foreign minister following his dismissal announcement that same day.
Days after Qin disappeared, Li Yuchao, commander of China missile force, also vanished only reappearing months later when he too was removed from his post due reports suggesting both were under investigation for internal corruption according Financial Times article.
Other high profile business tycoons have also received similar treatment either vanishing before returning or staying missing altogether like tech billionaire Jack Ma who went AWOL between 2020-2021.
Ren Zhiqiang property business executive also went missing beginning COVID-19 pandemic March 2020 after calling out President Xi handling virus Reuters noted.
It seems President Xi Jinping is serious about cleaning house.