China appointed Dong Jun like new Minister of Defense, after what his predecessor was dismissed in October without explanation, after having disappeared from the public scene for a couple of months, it was reported today.
Dong Jun, whose Chinese characters can be translated as “army supervisor”, served since August 2021 as navy commanderThe Xinhua news agency reported today. He had also held the position of deputy head of the Chinese Army’s Southern Commandwhich usually takes charge of military defense in the disputed South China Sea.
What happened to the previous Minister of Defense
He Chinese President Xi Jinpingratified the decision of the Parliament Standing Committeethe news agency reported AFP. The post of defense minister had been vacant since Li Shangfu’s dismissal without explanation in October after just seven months in office.
Before his departure, the second of a senior official this year, Li spent almost two months without participating in any public event. His last participation was on August 29when he gave a speech in Beijing.
His dismissal occurred after months of speculation, after the abrupt termination of the Foreign Minister Qin Gangin an equally confusing movement in which was replaced by Wang Yiwho was in charge of foreign policy for China’s ruling Communist Party.
The position of Minister of Defense for someone who was already in the Army
Dong, 62, was recently chief of the Navy of the People’s Liberation Army and replaces Li Shangfu, who took over as defense minister in March but had not been seen in public since August 25.
The appointment by Chinese legislators comes while President Xi Jinping modernizes the military as part of its campaign to turn China into a dominant world power, something that has alerted Washington and its Asian allies.
The experts’ forecast for China
The experts predicted that the current head of state mayr, Liu Zhenli59 years old, He would be appointed as the new Minister of Defense. Zhenli had met by telephone last week with his American counterpart, General Charles Q. Brun Jr, in the first call of this type in more than a year between two senior military officials from the two powers.
He appointment of the new defense minister occurs two weeks before presidential elections in Taiwanan autonomous territory that China considers its own and that has caused geopolitical tensions.
The last weeks were also marked by thes tensions between China and the Philippinesafter the most tense clashes in years between ships from the two countries in maritime conflict zones.
Source: Ambito
