New defense minister appointed in China after disappearance of predecessor | Abroad

The ministerial post has been vacant since October, after Dong’s predecessor was in office for only a few months. Li Shangfu took office in March, but has not appeared in public since late August. Although Chinese authorities have not revealed what exactly happened to Li, Western media suggest he was suspected of corruption.

Dong’s appointment by Chinese lawmakers comes at a crucial time. President Xi Jinping is upgrading the military as part of his ambition to make China a dominant world power. This effort has alarmed many neighboring countries. The role of the Chinese Minister of Defense is to be the public face of the People’s Liberation Army in its dealings with the media and other militaries. Dong, a former Chinese Navy commander, now heads this important position.

Unlike other countries, the Chinese ministry has little say in defense policy or military management. These areas fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Military Commission, an elite group led by President Xi Jinping.

An important aspect of the Chinese Defense Minister’s job is to work with the U.S. military to reduce the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea. These areas have increasingly become the focus of tensions in recent years. Li did not meet his American counterpart, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, during his short term in office. This despite the essential task that rested on his shoulders. Washington imposed a condition that it first lift sanctions imposed on Li in 2018 over his involvement in the purchase of Russian aircraft and equipment. Dong is not under any such restrictions as there are no known US sanctions against him.

During the recent meeting between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco, both leaders agreed to resume high-level military talks. These talks had previously been put on hold following then-Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi’s visit to self-ruled Taiwan in August 2022.