China has replaced Defense Minister Gen. Li Shangfu, who has been out of public view for almost two months with little explanation, state media reported Tuesday.

Li is the second senior Chinese official to disappear this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, who was removed from office in July with no explanation offered.

Li became defence minister during a Cabinet reshuffle in March hasn’t been seen since giving a speech on August 29. Li is under US sanctions related to his overseeing weapon purchases from Russia that bar him from entering the country.

The announcement from state broadcaster CCTV said that both Li and Qin had been removed from the State Council, China’s Cabinet and the centre of government power. Although it remains unclear whether they will face prosecution or other legal sanctions.

China’s political and legal systems remain highly opaque.