BEIJING: China announced Dong Jun as its new Defence Minister, replacing Li Shangfu who vanished four months ago.
The move by China’s legislature follows President Xi Jinping’s efforts to modernize the military and assert China’s global influence, a strategy that has worried many neighbours.
China’s Defence Minister acts as the public representative of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in its interactions with the media and other armed forces.
However, unlike other countries, the ministry has limited influence over defence policy or military administration, which are controlled by the Central Military Commission, a powerful body headed by Xi.
Dong, 62, previously served as the chief of the PLA Navy. He succeeds Li, who became the defence minister in March but disappeared from public view since Aug. 25.
According to Reuters, sources said that Li was under investigation for corruption involving equipment procurement and development.
Beijing has not commented on Li’s whereabouts but removed him from his posts as defence minister and state councillor in October.
A key aspect of China’s Defence Minister role is to engage with the US military to reduce the chances of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea, two hotspots that have witnessed frequent tensions in recent years.
However, during his short stint as minister, Li did not meet his US counterpart – Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. The ministry said that Washington had to first lift the sanctions it imposed on Li in 2018 for his role in buying Russian aircraft and equipment.
Dong does not face such a hurdle, as he is not subject to U.S. sanctions.
Last month, President Joe Biden and Xi met in San Francisco and agreed to restart senior military talks that were halted after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, which China claims as its own, in August 2022.
