BEIJING: China removed defence minister Li Shangfu and ousted ex-foreign minister Qin Gang from its cabinet on Tuesday, state media said, in a major reshuffle of top leadership.

The news comes after months of speculation about the country’s cabinet, including confusion over the abrupt removal of Qin from office in July without explanation and the months-long absence of Li from public view.

Both Qin and Li are believed by experts to have been personally selected for their roles by President Xi Jinping. On Tuesday state broadcaster CCTV announced the removals in its regular evening bulletin, but did not offer reasons for the ministers’ fall from grace.