Intrigue builds over China’s missing defence minister

News Snapshot:

Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for more than two weeks. Photograph: Yrui Kochetkov/EPA/Shutterstock China has remained tight-lipped about reports that its defence minister has been removed from office, neither confirming nor denying that he is the latest in a succession of senior figures to be pushed aside. Li Shangfu, who took up his position last March, has not been seen for more than two weeks, fuelling speculation about his whereabouts. The Financial Times reported early on Friday that United States officials believed he was placed under investigation and the Wall Street Journal said he...