New Chinese military minister subject to US sanctions related to Russia

China's National People's Congress (NPC) appointed General Li Shangfu, who has been sanctioned by the US for dealings with Russia, as the country's new defense minister on Sunday. Li was born in 1958 in Chengdu and spent more than three decades at the Xichang spaceport, working first as a technician and eventually becoming the launch site's director. He oversaw the launch of Chang'e 2, the country's first lunar probe, and led China's first anti-satellite missile test. In 2016, he was appointed deputy commander of the recently established People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Command, and between 2017 and 2022, led China's manned space program. His appointment comes at a time of growing confrontation with the US and rising tensions over Taiwan.