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Speculation is growing about the whereabouts of Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who has not been seen in public since early this month. Gen. Li's absence from a recent meeting of the Central Military Commission, led by President Xi Jinping, has fueled rumors of his detention. This comes after Foreign Minister Qin Gang was replaced in July, leading to speculation of government purges. Gen. Li was previously sanctioned by the US in 2018 for purchasing Russian fighter jets and missiles in violation of US sanctions.

Regarded as a close confidante of President Xi Jinping, Gen. Li has not been seen in public since early this month, and also had not attended the meeting with senior Vietnamese defence officials on September 7 and 8

Regarded as a close confidante of President Xi Jinping, Gen. Li has not been seen in public since early this month, and also had not attended the meeting with senior Vietnamese defence officials on September 7 and 8

Speculation about the missing Chinese Defence Minister General Li Shangfu may have been removed and detained became rife after he was conspicuously absent at the meeting of the Central Military Commission (CMC) in Beijing on Friday.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from a PTI