Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Last updated
Minister of National Defense of
the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国国防部部长
National Emblem of the People's Republic of China (2).svg
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg
Admiral Dong Jun 02.png
Incumbent
Dong Jun
since 29 December 2023
Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China
Status Provincial-Ministerial level official
Member of State Council
Reports to Central Military Commission
Seat Beijing
Nominator Premier
(chosen within the Chinese Communist Party)
Appointer President
with the confirmation of the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee
Precursor Minister of National Defense of the Republic of China
Formation28 September 1954;69 years ago (1954-09-28)
First holder Peng Dehuai
Website eng.mod.gov.cn/xb/Ministry/index.html

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).

Contents

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

No.PortraitMinisterTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
1
General Peng Dehuai.jpg
Dehuai, Peng Marshal
Peng Dehuai
彭德怀

(1898–1974)
28 September 195417 September 19594 years, 201 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
2
Lin Biao.jpg
Biao, LinMarshal
Lin Biao
林彪

(1907–1971)
17 September 195913 September 197112 years, 149 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
Vacant
13 September 1971–17 January 1975
3
Ye Jianying.jpg
Jianying, YeMarshal
Ye Jianying
叶剑英

(1897–1986)
17 January 197526 February 19783 years, 40 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
4
Xu Xiangqian.jpg
Xiangqian, XuMarshal
Xu Xiangqian
徐向前

(1901–1990)
26 February 19786 March 19812 years, 345 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
5
Geng Biao 1949.jpg
Biao, Geng Geng Biao
耿飚

(1909–2000)
6 March 198119 November 19821 year, 105 daysFormerly Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
6
Zhang Aiping.jpg
Aiping, Zhang General
Zhang Aiping
张爱萍

(1910–2003)
19 November 198212 April 19885 years, 145 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
7
Qin-Jiwei-1955.jpg
Jiwei, QinGeneral
Qin Jiwei
秦基伟

(1914–1997)
12 April 198829 March 19934 years, 351 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
8
Chi Haotian.jpg
Haotian, ChiGeneral
Chi Haotian
迟浩田

(born 1929)
29 March 199317 March 20039 years, 353 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
9
Cao Gangchuan 071105-D-7203T-005 0Y2A3.jpg
Gangchuan, CaoGeneral
Cao Gangchuan
曹刚川

(born 1935)
17 March 200317 March 20085 years, 0 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
10
Liang Guanglie 2012.jpg
Guanglie, LiangGeneral
Liang Guanglie
梁光烈

(born 1940)
17 March 200816 March 20135 years, 0 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
11
Chang Wanquan Senate of Poland.JPG
Wanquan, ChangGeneral
Chang Wanquan
常万全

(born 1949)
16 March 201319 March 20185 years, 3 daysGround Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  PLA Ground Force
12
Wei Fenghe 2018.jpg
Fenghe, WeiGeneral
Wei Fenghe
魏凤和

(born 1954)
19 March 201812 March 20234 years, 358 daysRocket Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA Rocket Force
13
Li Shangfu (cropped).jpg
Shangfu, LiGeneral
Li Shangfu
李尚福

(born 1958)
12 March 202324 October 2023226 daysEmblem of People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.png PLA Strategic Support Force
Vacant
24 October 2023–29 December 2023
14
Admiral Dong Jun 01.png
Jun, DongAdmiral
Dong Jun
董军

(born 1961)
29 December 2023Incumbent102 daysNaval Ensign of China.svg PLA Navy

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