Li Shangfu

Li Shangfu, born on February 1, 1958, is a distinguished Chinese aerospace engineer and former military administrator. His career in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) began in 1982 when he joined as a technician at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, where he dedicated over three decades of service, including a decade as the center's director.

Li's ascent through the ranks of the PLA was marked by significant roles, including his tenure as deputy director of the PLA General Armaments Department from 2014 to 2016, and later as the director of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC) from 2017 to 2022. His contributions to military engineering and administration were recognized when he was conferred the rank of General in July 2019 and appointed as a member of the CMC in October 2022.

In March 2023, Li was appointed as the 13th Minister of National Defense and State Councillor of China. However, his term was notably brief, as he disappeared from public view in August 2023 and was subsequently removed from office on October 24, 2023, making him the shortest-serving Minister of National Defense in Chinese history and the first from the PLA Strategic Support Force.

Li's career took a dramatic turn in June 2024 when he was expelled from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) following corruption charges, with his case being transferred to the military's judiciary for criminal prosecution. His rank of General was also revoked, marking a significant fall from grace for a once-prominent figure in China's military hierarchy.