China's leadership has formally dismissed the country's defense minister, Li Shangfu, two months after he disappeared from the public eye — the second minister to be removed recently.

Joseph Schmidt, who worked in military intelligence, faces two charges for allegedly trying to hand national defense information to China. One alleged document was entitled "High Level Secrets."

Chinese companies and individuals own farmland across America. But lawmakers in Washington are pushing to block any purchases that could be connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

Gov. Greg Gianforte banned the app on state government electronic devices last December, and has said he is concerned about people's user data being compromised by the Chinese government.

China is proposing to overhaul its science, technology and finance regulators as part of a stiff competition with rivals while also tamping down risk at home.

China's ruling party kicks off a national congress on Sunday in which Xi Jinping is expected to secure a third term as party boss and chief of the military.