China has named a US-sanctioned general as its new defence minister in a decision that could spell more difficulties for already strained US-China ties. Li Shangfu, an aerospace expert, was voted unanimously by the country's rubber-stamp parliament, the National People's Congress, yesterday to replace outgoing defence chief Wei Fenghe.
Mr Li, 65, was sanctioned by the US State Department in 2018 for purchasing Russian weapons, including 10 Su-35 combat aircraft and equipment related to the S-400 surface-to-air missile system. He took charge amid a stark warning by foreign minister Qin Gang in which he said there "will surely be conflict" with the US unless it changes course.
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