China has officially appointed Dong Jun as its new defense minister, succeeding Li Shangfu, who was removed from office two months ago. Dong, a former navy commander, assumes the crucial role, as announced by China’s top legislators during a Standing Committee meeting of the National People’s Congress in Beijing on Friday.
Li Shangfu, the former defense minister, had not been seen in public since August, and his dismissal was part of a series of high-profile removals of military officials earlier this year. The reshuffling also included the sudden removal of Qin Gang as foreign minister in July, both of whom had served in their positions for only seven months with no given reasons for their dismissals.
Recent developments indicate a continuation of this trend, with nine senior military officials reportedly removed from the Standing Committee on Friday, as reported by Reuters, citing state media outlet Xinhua. Additionally, three executives from state-owned missile defense firms were ousted from Beijing’s top political advisory body earlier in the week, according to state media reports.
Analysts speculate that these actions may signal a broader purge within China’s military leadership, targeting senior officials. Dong Jun, aged 62, brings his extensive experience to the role, having previously served as the commander of the navy since August 2021. His earlier responsibilities included the position of deputy commander of the Chinese military’s Southern Theatre Command, which encompasses the South China Sea—an area fraught with territorial disputes, particularly over China’s sovereignty claims. As tensions persist in the region, Dong’s appointment is closely watched for potential implications on China’s military strategy and international relations.
