China has dismissed its Minister of Defence, Li Shangfu, and Foreign Minister, Qin Gang. According to some reports, this occurred against the backdrop of the consolidation of power by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was re-elected for a third term this year.
"Former Chinese Minister of Defence Li Shangfu and former Foreign Minister Qin Gang have been expelled from the State Council of the PRC and removed from their state posts. The decision was made by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress," reports Bes.media, citing Chinese media.
It has become known that Li Shangfu is accused of corruption and faces the death penalty. According to the investigation, he received and offered bribes, abused his official position, and damaged the image of the party and the armed forces.
"Li has been expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and the Central Military Commission. The investigation established that he used personnel mechanisms for personal gain, accepted large bribes in the form of money and valuables, and also offered bribes to achieve his own goals. ... his actions have seriously damaged the defence capabilities and the reputation of the armed forces," the statement says.
The former foreign minister, Qin Gang, who was appointed to the post in December 2022, was removed after just six months, although no official charges have been brought against him.
"After his dismissal, he briefly appeared in public in early 2024 to resign from his post as a deputy of the National People's Congress and then disappeared again," the statement reads.
It is noted that these resignations occur against the backdrop of the consolidation of power by Chinese President Xi Jinping, who was re-elected for a third term in 2023. At his initiative, the limit of two terms for the head of state was abolished in 2018.
Recall, in August last year, the head of the Anti-Corruption Centre of the Abai region, Serik Baigaliyev, proposed introducing the death penalty for corruption crimes in Kazakhstan.
According to him, success in the fight against corruption can only be achieved through stricter punishment for crimes. He cited Singapore as an example, which managed to transform significantly in a short period of time and become a developed global power.
In the author's opinion, if the death penalty is unacceptable, then for major corruption crimes, a severe punishment of life imprisonment without the possibility of release should be applied.