![Andy Wong FILE - Newly elected Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu takes his oath during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. He was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/d0aef75068e64e03935cdd360058bc59/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
FILE - Newly elected Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu takes his oath during a session of China's National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. He was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
![Danial Hakim FILE - China's Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe speaks at a plenary session during the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on June 12, 2022. China has expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over accusations of corruption that are likely to lead to sentences of life in prison. The Defense Ministry on Thursday, June 27, 2024 said Li Shangfu abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes in exchange for granting favors. Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, was also accused on similar charges. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/cb67675232dc49d7bb2110ef76e20520/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
FILE - China's Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe speaks at a plenary session during the 19th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-la Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on June 12, 2022. China has expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over accusations of corruption that are likely to lead to sentences of life in prison. The Defense Ministry on Thursday, June 27, 2024 said Li Shangfu abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes in exchange for granting favors. Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, was also accused on similar charges. (AP Photo/Danial Hakim, File)
![Heng Sinith FILE - Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe, front, walks out after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the venue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Nov. 22, 2022. China has expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over accusations of corruption that are likely to lead to sentences of life in prison. The Defense Ministry on Thursday, June 27, 2024 said Li Shangfu abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes in exchange for granting favors. Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, was also accused on similar charges. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/7c8c3c7b632f44bb81332a99940b6fdb/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
FILE - Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe, front, walks out after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the venue of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Nov. 22, 2022. China has expelled two former defense ministers from the ruling Communist Party over accusations of corruption that are likely to lead to sentences of life in prison. The Defense Ministry on Thursday, June 27, 2024 said Li Shangfu abused his authority to enrich himself by taking bribes in exchange for granting favors. Li's predecessor, Wei Fenghe, was also accused on similar charges. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith, File)
![Vincent Thian FILE - China Defense Minister Li Shangfu, left, listens to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese deliver a keynote address during the opening dinner for the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on June 2, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. Li was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/6519a66b60aa46699f048202f07e6db8/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
FILE - China Defense Minister Li Shangfu, left, listens to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese deliver a keynote address during the opening dinner for the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore on June 2, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. Li was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)
![Vincent Thian FILE - Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu salutes before delivering his speech on the last day of the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, on June 4, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. He was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/23bbe3204274493bb0e712067c9e9c36/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x&wm=false)
FILE - Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu salutes before delivering his speech on the last day of the 20th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia's annual defense and security forum, in Singapore, on June 4, 2023. Former Chinese defense minister Li was expelled from the ruling Communist Party and is being investigated for corruption and bribery, the official Xinhua news agency reported Thursday, June 27, 2024. He was removed from office in October 2023 after disappearing from public view for almost two months. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)