China appoints US-sanctioned General as Defence Minister

China named Li Shangfu, a US-sanctioned basic, as its new Defence Minister on Sunday.

Beijing,UPDATED: Mar 13, 2023 03:58 IST

Gen Li was confirmed as the brand new Defence Minister by China’s rubber-stamp parliament on Sunday. (Photo: Reuters)

By Press Trust of India: China on Sunday appointed a US-sanctioned military basic as its new Defence Minister, displaying scant regard for Washington’s ban on its navy personnel.

Gen. Li Shangfu, a Chinese aerospace engineer and General of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for the acquisition of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 surface-to-air missiles by China’s Equipment Development Department (EDD) in violation of the US sanctions on Russia.

The US sanctioned each the EDD and its then director, Gen Li.

On Sunday, Gen Li was confirmed as the brand new Defence Minister by China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress (CPC). He will succeed Gen Wei Fenghe.

Gen Li was appointed together with a brand new set of cabinet ministers for varied ministries as a part of change of the Chinese authorities officers each 10 years.

On Saturday, Gen Li was appointed as a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) – the excessive command of the Chinese navy headed by President Xi Jinping.

The US Department of Defence’s 2022 China Military Report described Gen Li as the overall officer who presents “technical expertise on military modernisation on space issues” to Xi.

“Li’s rise reflects the unprecedented development of China’s space enterprise since Xi Jinping took power in 2012,” in line with the Diplomat journal.

“It also signals to the world that, against the backdrop of increasingly intensified China-US technological competition, China will continue to prioritize aerospace in its defence modernisation agenda during Xi’s third term and beyond,” it stated.

“General Li Shangfu’s appointment represents more consistency in the PLA senior leadership than change. Like Wei Fenghe, who also rose within the PLA under Xi’s tenure, Li will continue to be a steward of China’s defence modernization programs, which have received sustained and continuous support of Chinese leaders from Jiang Zemin to Xi Jinping. Moreover, as the highest-ranking state councilor and a CMC member, Li will enjoy direct access to Xi and serve as his key military advisor,” it stated.

Posted By:

Manisha Pandey

Published On:

Mar 13, 2023