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Over the summer, Beijing limited Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to a single handshake with sanctioned Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at a ...

(Bloomberg) -- Over the summer, Beijing limited Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin to a single handshake with sanctioned Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu at a top military forum. Now, Li’s drop from public view could help reboot senior-level military talks between the superpowers.Most Read from BloombergHow Auto Executives Misread the UAW Ahead of Historic StrikeXi’s Missing Defense Chief Opens Door for US Military TalksEurope Is Better Prepared If Trump Wins Again, Germany’s Baerbock SaysMGM Resort

Political upheaval continues in China, with another major minister disappearing from public view. Questions over the fate of Defense Minister Li Shangfu could cast a negative light on the military and Xi Jinping.

The Chinese defense chief is reportedly under probe after not being seen in public since Aug. 29 and missing engagements, fueling speculation he’s set to be replaced. His removal would eliminate one major roadblock to military talks.

As China has become a more powerful and influential actor—economically, politically, and militarily—it has demonstrated growing interest in playing a larger role in international conflict prevention and influencing established norms. This report examines Beijing’s approaches and efforts in this area, focusing on three case studies: funding projects through the UN, “Sinocentric” regional organizations, and ties with Solomon Islands. The report finds that China’s efforts around conflict prevention have a coherence that requires a similarly coherent response from the United States.