Critical Alert: General Li Shangfu Was Formerly Sanctioned By the U.S. For Purchasing Russian Military Equipment But Now Designated As China’s New Defense Minister 

A Chinese veteran of the People’s Liberation Army, General Li Shangfu, who is also an aerospace engineer, was designated as China’s defense minister on Sunday last week.  

In 2018, Li received sanctions from the United States Treasury Department. 

During that time, he was the director of the Equipment Development Department, a department that is responsible for supervising the country’s military technologies. 

The State Department stated that Li also had a part in the purchase of materials for S-400 surface-to-air missiles and Su-35 combat aircraft from an authorized Russian company.

President of China, Xi Jinping, got reelected for the third time this week by China’s rubber-stamp bill. 

This Wednesday, Xi Jinping suggested his country should strengthen and take its military to “world-class standards” and “systematically upgrade the country’s overall strength to cope with strategic risks.”

He also declared that Chinese military expenses are increasing by 7.2% this year, approximately $230 billion. 

Four GOP chairmen of House committees gave out a collaborative statement last Friday concerning Chinese military development and indicated it as a serious threat to U.S. national security. 

The four Chairmen wrote: 

“It is evident from this threat assessment that the tactics the CCP uses to accomplish its goals have not worked entirely in its favor, leaving our nation at a tipping point. The CCP must not be underestimated, but the U.S. can still triumph in a peer-to-peer competition with the CCP if our government acts in a swift and unified manner.”

Their warning for the alarming situation came after the statement of the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Qin Gang, in which he stated that China is directed toward “conflict and confrontation” with the U.S.

On Tuesday last week, Qin stated at his first press briefing: 

“If the United States does not hit the brake — but continues to speed down the wrong path — no amount of guardrails can prevent derailing and there will surely be conflict and confrontation and who will bear the catastrophic consequences?”

He added: 

“Such competition is a reckless gamble, with the stakes being the fundamental interests of the two peoples and even the future of humanity.”