China appoints Dong Jun as Minister of Defense

General Dong Jun, 62, former commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, will take up the new role, according to a decision by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) at its session that ended on Friday.

Dong Jun, former Commander of the Chinese Navy, has been appointed as China's new Defense Minister. Photo: Chinese Navy

Dong Jun will replace Li Shangfu, who was dismissed in an announcement in October 2023. Li Shangfu is the second Chinese minister to be dismissed this year, following former Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July 2023.

Before becoming Commander of the Chinese Navy and being promoted to General in 2021, Dong Jun was Deputy Commander of the South China Sea Fleet, the mainstay of the Eastern Theater Command. He also served as Deputy Commander of China's Southern Theater Command.

Dong Jun's appointment comes just days after China appointed Hu Zhongming, a submarine expert, as its new navy chief.

Hoang Anh (according to Xinhua News Agency, SCMP, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/trung-quoc-bo-nhiem-ong-dong-quan-lam-bo-truong-quoc-phong-post279083.html