“The mysterious disappearance of China’s defense chief just months after he ascended to the post is fueling questions about his fate and the stability of the Chinese Communist Party.
Li Shangfu, who was handpicked by Chinese leader Xi Jinping for the role in March, has been missing from public view for more than two weeks; his last appearance was on Aug. 29, when he delivered a keynote address to African defense officials at a security forum in Beijing.
A stream of reports citing sources in China and U.S. officials suggest that Mr. Li has been stripped of his responsibilities and is possibly under investigation for corruption, which would make him the fourth senior Chinese official falling from grace less than a year into Mr. Xi’s third term.”