China Appoints Dong Jun as New Defense Minister... Two Months After Dismissal of Li Shangfu
Former People's Liberation Army Navy Member... 62 Years Old This Year
Former Navy Commander Dong Jun has been appointed as the new Minister of National Defense.
According to Xinhua News Agency on the 29th, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) appointed former Commander Dong Jun as the successor to former Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu, who was dismissed that day.
Newly appointed Minister of National Defense, Dong Jun, former Navy Commander. (Photo by Chinese Navy official website)
View original imageFormer Commander Dong Jun, 62 years old this year, has served as the Political Commissar of the People's Liberation Army Navy, Deputy Chief of Staff of the North Sea Fleet, Deputy Commander of the East Sea Fleet, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy, and Deputy Commander of the Southern Theater Command.
The Chinese government announced the appointment of the new Minister of National Defense on the same day, stating, "This is to fill the vacancy caused by the sudden dismissal of former Minister Li in October."
This personnel change was made four months after Li's disappearance and two months after his dismissal. Li took office in March this year and disappeared from public appearances after delivering the keynote speech at the China-Africa Security Forum held in August.
There were even rumors about his disappearance, but it was later reported that former Minister Li was investigated by Chinese authorities regarding corruption related to military supplies delivery. He was ultimately dismissed from his position as Minister of National Defense and as a member of the Central Military Commission on October 24.
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In 2018, while serving as the Director of the Equipment Development Department of the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, former Minister Li was sanctioned by the United States for illegally purchasing fighter jets and other equipment from Russia.
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