China’s Defence Minister, Li Shangfu, has reportedly been detained in connection with ongoing corruption investigations. This comes two months after the disappearance of Foreign Minister Qin Gang. Li, who is also one of the five State Councillors, is said to have been under investigation for corruption within the military’s Rocket Force.

It remains unclear whether the removal of Li and Qin are connected, but some of the Rocket Force purges were announced shortly after Qin’s removal. US officials believe Li is currently in detention and has been removed from his post.

The sudden removal of these high-ranking officials raises questions about President Xi Jinping’s control over the military and challenges the notion of his complete dominance in Chinese politics, which some observers had previously believed.

These recent developments also highlight the prevalence of corruption within the Chinese political system despite Xi’s anti-corruption campaign.