Li Shangfu

Former Minister of National Defense

Appears in 1 story

Born: February 1958, Chengdu

Education: National University of Defense Technology

Previous offices: National People's Congress deputy, State councillor

Last updated Nov 2, 2026

Stories

China's military buildup on a deadline

Force in Play

As of May 2026: Expelled from the Chinese Communist Party; under investigation for corruption

China's National People's Congress formally approved a 7% defense budget to 1.94 trillion yuan ($277 billion) in March 2026, a new record, while setting the country's lowest GDP growth target since 1991. Military spending has outpaced economic growth every year for over a decade.

Updated May 31