China’s New Minister of National Defense

FOLLOWING the position of Minister of National Defense of the
People’s Republic of China (PRC) being vacant since last October, the
position has now been filled by former chief of the People’s Liberation
Army Navy (PLAN), Adm Dong Jun. It is the latest round of promotions
after the PLA Navy received a new chief, just days before the
appointment of Adm Dong by the Standing Committee of the National
People’s Congress.

As Defence Minister, the incumbent would represent the PLA in
engagements with the media and foreign counterparts, among them are
interactions with the US Secretary of Defense or the US Armed Forces
to sort out frictions over the Taiwan and South China Sea issues.

Prior to his appointment as Defence Minister and Chief of PLAN, Adm
Dong was the vice commander of the East Sea Fleet which now
constitutes the Eastern Theatre Command that oversees a responsibility
area of Taiwan. Additionally, he also held the post of vice commander of
the Southern Theatre Command that operates in the hotly contested
South China Sea. shp/adj/dl (Pix:Singapore Ministry of Defence)