China Appoints New Defense Minister, Removes Nine Military Officers from NPC

This morning, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress approved several measures which shook up the structure of the Chinese government. The 189 members approved Dong Jun as Minister of National Defense, Lu Zhiyuan as Minister of Civil Affairs, and Sun Yeli as Minister of Culture and Tourism Minister Xi. It also established the second session of the 14th National People's Congress will be held in Beijing on March 5, 2024..In addition to the new posting of the Defense Minister, two months after Li Shangfu was unceremoniously removed, the Military Congress of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Commission decided to remove nine high ranking military members. That announcement reads below:."To remove Zhang Zhenzhong from his position as a representative of the 14th National People's Congress. The Military Congress of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission decided to remove Zhang Yulin and Rao Wenmin from their positions as representatives of the 14th National People's Congress. The Naval Service Congress decided to remove Ju Xinchun from his position as a representative of the 14th National People's Congress. The Air Force Servicemen's Congress decided to remove Ding Laihang from his position as representative of the 14th National People's Congress. The Rocket Force Soldiers' Congress decided to remove Lu Hong, Li Yuchao, Li Chuanguang, and Zhou Yaning from their positions as representatives of the 14th National People's Congress. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Representatives to the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at All Levels, the qualifications of Zhang Zhenzhong, Zhang Yulin, Rao Wenmin, Ju Xinchun, Ding Laihang, Lu Hong, Li Yuchao, Li Chuanguang and Zhou Yaning were terminated. . In accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Election Law of the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses at All Levels of the People's Republic of China", Zhang Yulin's position as a member of the Financial and Economic Committee of the 14th National People's Congress was accordingly revoked; Ding Laihang's position as a member of the 14th National People's Congress was accordingly revoked; The positions of member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and deputy chairman of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress were correspondingly revoked; Zhou Yaning's positions of member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and deputy chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress were correspondingly revoked.".Dong Jun is an admiral in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). His publicly available biography reads below:."In 1978, Dong was admitted to the Dalian Naval Academy of the Navy. After graduation, he began his service with the Navy in 1979. He has successively served as the head of the military training department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Naval Command, the deputy chief of staff of the Beihai Fleet, and the commander of the Navy's 92269 unit..In 2013, Dong was appointed deputy commander of East Sea Fleet, and held that office until December 2014, when he was appointed deputy chief of staff of the People's Liberation Army Navy. In January 2017, he was promoted to become deputy commander of Southern Theater Command. In March 2021, he became deputy commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, rising to commander in August 2021. He was named as the commander of the PLA Navy in September 2021. He was succeeded as commander by Hu Zhongming in December 2023."