General Dong Jun becomes China’s defense minister

China has named a new defense minister, two months after Li Shangfu was removed from the post with no explanation, Report informs referring to South China Morning Post.

General Dong Jun, the commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, was named as the new minister.

Li’s ousting was confirmed at the National People’s Congress Standing Committee meeting in October.

He had disappeared from the public eye in late August and no reasons have been given for his removal.

Li, was the first Chinese defense minister to be placed on a US sanctions list – because of arms sales from Russia – and was the second government minister abruptly removed from his post this year.

The foreign minister Qin Gang has also disappeared from view and was replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi in July.

Both Li and Qin were also removed from their posts as state councilors – a senior cabinet position with a higher ranking than regular ministers – in the October meeting.

Dong, whose age is not known, has served in all major naval divisions in the PLA. Before becoming the navy’s top commander in 2021, he served in the Northern Sea Fleet, now a regular player in joint drills with the Russian navy; the Eastern Sea Fleet, which focuses on potential conflicts with Japan, as well as the Southern Command Theatre, which oversees the South China Sea.