China has named former naval commander Dong Jun as its new defense minister, two months after removing his predecessor Li Shangfu from the role without explanation following Li’s extended absence from public view.
The top body of China’s rubber stamp legislature announced Dong’s appointment Friday, following their final session for the year, Chinese state media Xinhua reported.
Dong had served as the top commander of the Chinese navy since 2021. His appointment ends months of speculation over when Beijing would fill the role left vacant after the same political body approved Li’s removal in October.
Li, who was appointed defense minister in March, has not been seen in public since late August, fueling intense speculation about his fate.
His disappearance and subsequent removal followed a series of unexplained personnel shakeups that have roiled the country’s upper ranks, including the dramatic ousting of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July and the removal of two leaders from the PLA’s Rocket Force, all without explanation.
Weeks before Li vanished from public view, Xi convened the military’s top brass in Beijing for a meeting, where he emphasized political loyalty, discipline and the party’s “absolute leadership” over the armed forces.
The Chinese government has repeatedly declined to comment on Li’s whereabouts and reasons behind his absence. The announcement Friday did not provide further details besides announcing Dong’s appointment.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Li was taken away in September by authorities for questioning, citing a person close to decision making in Beijing. The Financial Times also reported that the US government believes the defense minister has been placed under investigation, citing American officials. Neither of the reports cited a reason for the investigation.
The new minister Dong became the top commander of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2021. On Monday, former submarine commander Hu Zhongming was named in that role during a ceremony promoting him to admiral.
Prior to taking top command of the navy, Dong was the deputy commander of the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command, which oversees operations in the South China Sea.
In China, the defense minister is a largely ceremonial role, serving as the public face of military diplomacy with other countries. Unlike the US defense secretary and other international equivalents, the Chinese defense minister does not have command power, which resides with the Central Military Commission.
— CutC by cnn.com
