Loyalty above all: Removal of top Chinese officials seen as enforcing Xi’s demand for obedience

By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN
Associated Press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Analysts say the removal of China’s foreign and defense ministers appears to enforce leader Xi Jinping’s demand for total obedience and the elimination of any potential rivals within the ruling Communist Party. State media this week confirmed that former defense minister Gen. Li Shangfu and former foreign minister Qin Gang were “no longer serving in office,” but offered no details. The opacity of China’s one-party authoritarian system creates huge speculation about why the officials left office and whether they will face legal censure. Both Li and Qin were appointed under Xi’s watch.