Minister_of_National_Defense_of_the_People's_Republic_of_China

Minister of National Defense (China)

Minister of National Defense (China)

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The Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is the head of the Ministry of National Defense and one of the top positions in the State Council. The minister usually is also a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC), the top governing body of China's armed forces including the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Quick Facts Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China, Status ...

Unlike in other countries, the minister does not have command authority over the armed forces, with the post generally used for diplomatic purposes. Nevertheless, the post has always been held by a member of the CMC.

The current minister of National Defense is Dong Jun.[1]

History

Historically, both the position and the ministry carried greater power.[2] In the first decades of the PRC, the ministry included several more departments. all overseen by vice ministers. The minister was held by influential generals, including Peng Dehuai, Lin Biao and Ye Jianying.[2] The ministry was reformed into its current state in the 1982 constitutional revision. Between 1982 and 2008, the minister usually concurrently served as a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and was usually a member of the Politburo. After 2008, holders of the position stopped serving concurrently as a CMC vice chair, further weakening the position.[2]

Process of appointment

Officially, the minister is nominated by the premier of the State Council, who is then approved by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee and appointed by the president.[3]

Functions

The military is under the governance of the CMC, putting the Ministry of National Defense out of the chain of command,[4] the minister is significantly less powerful than his counterparts from other countries, and has no direct command function over the military.[5] The post is generally seen as a diplomatic and ceremonial role, with the minister handling military-to-military ties with other countries.[6] However, the office has always been held by a member of the CMC.[7] Though the minister has historically been assisted by vice ministers, the ministry currently has no vice ministers.[2]

List of officeholders

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References

  1. [1]
    "China officially expels Li Shangfu as defense minister". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  2. [2]
    Zheng, William (25 October 2023). "Why the role of Chinese defence minister isn't exactly what it sounds like". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Constitution of the People's Republic of China". National People's Congress. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
  4. [4]
    Morris, Lyle J. (27 October 2022). "What China's New Central Military Commission Tells Us About Xi's Military Strategy". Asia Society. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  5. [5]
    Torode, Greg; Tian, Yew Lun (2023-09-18). "China's military hierarchy under spotlight after defence minister disappears". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  6. [6]
    "The mystery surrounding China's missing defence minister". The Economist. 15 September 2023. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
  7. [7]
    Liu, Zhen (18 October 2022). "What is China's Central Military Commission and why is it so powerful?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 18 September 2023.
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