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China names Dong Jun as new defence minister to replace ousted Li Shangfu
- Li was abruptly dismissed earlier this year without explanation, shortly after the ousting of foreign minister Qin Gang
- Dong Jun was previously head of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and is not on any US sanctions list – unlike his predecessor
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China has named its former navy top commander as its new defence minister, two months after Li Shangfu was removed from the post without explanation.
General Dong Jun, the 62-year-old former commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, will take on the new role, following a decision by the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee at a session that ended on Friday.
Li’s ousting was confirmed at a similar meeting in October.
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He disappeared from the public eye in late August and no reason has been given for his removal.
Li was the first Chinese defence minister to be placed on a US sanctions list – because of arms sales from Russia – and was the second government minister abruptly removed from his post this year.
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Dong, who is not on any US sanctions list, is the first defence minister from the navy.
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