China announced on Friday, December 29, that Dong Jun, a former head of the navy, will be taking over as defense minister, succeeding the previous minister who vanished from public view four months ago.
Legislators in China made the appointment at a time when President Xi Jinping is bolstering the military in an effort to elevate China to the status of global power, something that has worried many of the nation's neighbors.
This photo taken on April 23, 2023, shows the Philippine coast guard vessel BRP Malapascua (front) maneuvering as a Chinese coast guard ship cuts its path at Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea.
China's New Defense Minister
Meeting with members of foreign militaries and the media on behalf of the People's Liberation Army is part of the defense minister's crucial job description in China.
Dong, 62, is well-versed in the ins and outs of the South China Sea and Taiwan, two hotspots that he must constantly monitor and negotiate with the United States military in order to keep tensions down, as reported by Reuters.
He held the position of deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet until becoming leader of the People's Liberation Army Navy and was promoted to full general in 2021. The fleet is the foundation of the current Eastern Theatre Command, the primary combat force over Taiwan, an island that China claims as its own.
The Southern Theatre Command, which conducts operations in the contested South China Sea--a region that China claims for the most part--was under his supervision as vice commander.
According to Li Mingjiang, an expert in international relations from Singapore's Rajaratnam School of International Studies, "Dong would be familiar with managing near-encounters between Chinese and US military. This is useful when he has to manage crises between both militaries."
Wen-Ti Sung, a political scientist and non-resident associate at the Global China Hub of the Atlantic Council, said the appointment of Dong may indicate that the Rocket Force and Equipment Development Department is now undergoing purges.
Both of the previous defense ministers, who were appointed from these two branches, are now completely out of the public eye.
See Also: South China Sea Dispute: Philippines Denies China's 'Provoking Claims,' Condemns Beijing's Behavior
Replacing Li Shangfu
Dong takes over for Li Shangfu, who was director of the department responsible for research and equipment acquisition until becoming defense minister in March. After August 25, Li disappeared from public view. As per Reuters' stated sources, Li is facing corruption charges involving equipment development and acquisition.
In October, Beijing removed Li from his positions as defense minister and state councilor, but the Chinese capital has provided no explanation for his departure.
Li did not get the opportunity to meet with his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his short time as minister. The government agency detailed the process by which the US would have to lift the sanctions imposed on Li in 2018 in response to his involvement in the acquisition of Russian military hardware.
Dong would not be subject to such a restriction since he is not believed to be a target of US sanctions.
