BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday named former navy chief Dong Jun as country’s new defense minister to replace the last minister who disappeared four months ago.
The development comes as President Xi upgrades the military as part of his push to make China a dominant world power.
The role of China’s defense minister is of extreme importance to be the public face of the People’s Liberation Army in its engagement with the media and with other forces.
Unlike other states, the ministry has little say in defense policy an area that falls under the purview of Central Military Commission, an elite group led by President Xi.
Dong Jun, 62, was has held the post of People’s Liberation Army Navy chief. He will replace Li Shangfu, who took up the post in March but had not been seen in public since August 25.
Western media citing sources said that Li is under investigation for corruption related to equipment procurement and development.
Beijing has not commented on Li’s disappearance but stripped him of his title as defense minister and state councillor.
An important element of China’s defense minister job is to keep in touch with the United States military to lower the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea.
It is to be noted that during his tenure as minister, Li did not meet his US counterpart Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
