China names top navy commander as defense minister

Appointment of Dong Jun fills void left by ousted Li Shangfu amid U.S. tensions

20231229 China navy aircraft carrier

China's Shandong aircraft carrier is seen in the Pacific Ocean in April. A crucial part of being China's defense minister is managing tensions with the U.S. military. © Reuters

CK TAN, Nikkei staff writer

SHANGHAI -- China's top legislative body on Friday named a top navy commander as the country's defense minister, filling the post left vacant after the removal of Li Shangfu in October.

The National People's Congress Standing Committee selected Dong Jun for the post, as part of a cabinet shake-up that also put Lu Zhiyuan in charge of the Ministry of Civil Affairs and Sun Yeli at the helm of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

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