Photo: Минобороны России / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Li Shangfu is a figure whose story turned almost surreal. An aerospace engineer who came up through the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, he rose to become China's Minister of National Defense in March 2023, only to vanish from public view and be removed by October the same year. I find the whole arc fascinating and a little chilling, a man who literally helped launch satellites, sidelined in a matter of months. His career is a stark reminder of how opaque and unforgiving the upper reaches of Chinese politics can be, where even a defense minister can disappear without clear explanation.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Li Shangfu
- Name (Japanese)
- 李尚福
- Reading
- り・しょうふく
- Born
- February 1, 1958 (age 68)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Dog
- Origin
- Chengdu, People's Republic of China
- Occupation
- military officer / military flight engineer / minister
2. Background
- University
- National University of Defense Technology
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%9D%8E%E5%B0%9A%E7%A6%8F
Frequently asked questions
When was Li Shangfu born?
Born February 1, 1958 (age 68).
Where is Li Shangfu from?
Li Shangfu is from Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
What does Li Shangfu do?
Li Shangfu works as military officer, military flight engineer, minister.
Military officer — see all → · Military flight engineer — see all → · More people from People's Republic of China →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.