China has named a general under US sanctions as its new defence minister, creating an additional hurdle for military dialogue as the two countries fret that geopolitical tensions could boil over into conflict.Li Shangfu, an aerospace engineer with little previous international exposure, was confirmed as the top military diplomat on Sunday. His appointment was expected after the Communist party made him a member of the Central Military Commission, China’s highest military body, last October.
His promotion follows a warning by foreign minister Qin Gang that there “will surely be conflict” with the US unless Washington changes course.
In 2018, the US added Li to a sanctions list for engaging in transactions with individuals affiliated with Russia’s defence or intelligence sectors. Li at the time was director of an agency that planned, developed and procured weapons for the People’s Liberation Army, and was targeted for his role in acquiring SU-35 fighter aircraft and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia.