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       China Appoints Naval Commander as Defense Minister

       The promotion of Adm. Dong Jun may calm uncertainty after the unexplained disappearance of the previous minister, Gen. Li Shangfu.

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       China on Friday appointed Adm. Dong Jun as defense minister. Credit...Eugene Hoshiko/Associated Press

       By Chris Buckley

       Dec. 29, 2023Updated 9:17 a.m. ET

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       China on Friday appointed a naval commander with experience in the South China Sea as its minister of defense, filling a monthslong vacancy created by the unexplained disappearance of the previous minister, who appeared to have fallen in an investigation into possible corruption or other misdeeds.

       The appointment of the commander, Adm. Dong Jun, as defense minister was finalized by China’s Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, after formal approval by lawmakers, the Xinhua news agency reported. Speculation spread earlier in the week that Admiral Dong would be named to that post after another admiral took his position as head of the Chinese navy.

       The promotion of Admiral Dong may calm the uncertainty that has festered around the high ranks of the Chinese military after the disappearance and removal of the previous defense minister, Gen. Li Shangfu, as well as the top two commanders of the Rocket Force, which controls China’s nuclear missiles.

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       Chris Buckley, the chief China correspondent for The Times, reports on China and Taiwan from Taipei, focused on politics, social change and security and military issues. More about Chris Buckley

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