The minister of public security is a member of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the head of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS). The position reports directly to the head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (CPLC) of the Chinese Communist Party. Within the State Council, the position is eight in order of precedence.

The minister is tasked with overseeing the police forces throughout the country.^[1] The minister concurrently serves as the director of the MPS Special Duty Bureau, responsible for protecting high-ranking political leaders. The ministers are each awarded the police rank of chief superintendent. The minister also usually serves as a state councillor and as the deputy secretary of the CPLC.^[2]

The minister is assisted by several vice ministers. Vice ministers generally serve as the director of the National Immigration Administration, director of the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau, director of the Legal System Bureau and director of the Political Security Bureau.^[2]

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]