After the press conference attended by Baerbock, China announced that the country’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu would visit Russia on Sunday, where he will meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/2023/04/14/germany-asks-china-to-intervene-to-stop-russias-war-in-ukraine

Beijing rejected an invitation for China’s defense minister, Li Shangfu, to meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III at a security meeting this weekend in Singapore.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/world/asia/china-us-relations-thaw.html

BEIJING, Sept 16 (Reuters) - General Li Shangfu, a veteran of China's military modernisation drive, rose through the ranks to become defence minister this year.

Source: https://www.marketscreener.com/news/latest/The-public-face-of-China-s-military-under-corruption-probe--44857619/?utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=20230915

Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La on Sunday.

Source: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/chinese-general-threatens-foreign-navies-after-warships-nearly-collide-in-taiwan-strait-20230604-p5dds0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

However, China reportedly rebuffed a U.S. request for a meeting between Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin while both were attending the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore over the weekend.

Source: https://thediplomat.com/2023/06/senior-us-chinese-diplomats-hold-candid-talks-to-avoid-escalation-of-tensions/

On October 24, Xi personally gave an to dismiss Li Shangfu as defense minister and state councilor, sack Qin as state councilor, remove Liu Kun as finance minister, and remove Wang Zhigang as science and technology minister.

Source: https://www.asiasentinel.com/p/ministers-sacking-cracks-china-leadership

On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu in Moscow, notably hailing the military cooperation between the two nations.

Source: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-russia-putin-latest-today-b2320295.html

Since 2018, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu has approved the purchase of fighter jets and equipment from Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms exporter.

Source: https://houstonianonline.com/chinas-ambassador-to-the-us-heads-to-the-pentagon-for-rare-security-talks/

They come amid a string of upheavals in the Chinese government’s top ranks, including the disappearance of defense minister Li Shangfu, and wobbles in the country’s economy that have caused consternation in foreign capitals.

Source: https://thefrontierpost.com/biden-aide-held-hours-of-constructive-talks-with-chinese-diplomat/