On Sunday, China appointed Gen. Li Shangfu as its new Defense Minister, despite being sanctioned by the US in 2018 for violating US sanctions on Russia by purchasing Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets and S-400 surface-to-air missiles. Gen. Li is a Chinese aerospace engineer and General of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and this move by China shows disregard for the US ban on its military personnel.
Despite being sanctioned by the US in 2018, General Li Shangfu has been confirmed as China's new Defense Minister by the National People's Congress. He will be succeeding General Wei Fenghe as part of a change in government officials that occurs every 10 years. Additionally, General Li was appointed to the Central Military Commission on Saturday, where he will offer technical expertise on military modernization and space issues to President Xi Jinping. The US Department of Defense's 2022 China Military Report notes General Li's technical expertise in military modernization and space issues. The Diplomat magazine believes that General Li's appointment reflects China's growing focus on aerospace in its defense modernization agenda and its desire to prioritize it in the face of increasing China-US technological competition.
The appointment of General Li Shangfu as China's new Defense Minister signals a continuation of the PLA's senior leadership under Xi's tenure. Like General Wei Fenghe, who also rose within the PLA under Xi's leadership, General Li will oversee China's defense modernization programs. This agenda has received sustained and continuous support from Chinese leaders, including Jiang Zemin and Xi Jinping. General Li, as the highest-ranking state councilor and a member of the Central Military Commission, will have direct access to Xi and serve as his key military advisor.
© Vygr Media Private Limited 2022. All Rights Reserved.
