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Dong Jun

Dong Jun
Admiral Dong Jun was appointed as China’s defence minister in December 2023, after his predecessor Li Shangfu was sacked months after he took up the role. Dong is the country’s first defence minister with a navy background. He has yet to be given the rank of state councillor or a seat on the decision-making Central Military Commission, roles that all previous defence ministers have taken on.
Born
1961
Industry
Politics, Military
Job Title
Minister of National Defense, China
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun arrives for the opening ceremony of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: EPA
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Chinese defence chief skirts flashpoints at Xiangshan Forum ahead of Xi-Trump summit

Dong Jun makes rare public offer of foreign military aid at major security conference and skips mentions of Taiwan and South China Sea.

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US-China relations

Defence chief Dong Jun omits Taiwan in milder Xiangshan Forum address

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China’s military

Fragility and cooperation: takeaways from Dong Jun’s Xiangshan Forum speech

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Mainland China

Xiangshan Forum: China’s defence chief on security in a fragile world – as it happened

Dong Jun makes no mention of Taiwan or the South China Sea in his address, just days before the US-China summit.

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Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun addresses Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP
Singapore

Singapore’s Chan Chun Sing to visit China, speak at defence forum

The three-day visit comes at the invitation of Chinese defence chief Dong Jun and underscores both countries’ ‘warm and friendly’ ties.

US-China relations

Exclusive | Senior Pentagon official for China to lead US delegation to Xiangshan Forum

Cynthia ‘Xanthi’ Carras to attend Beijing’s largest annual high-level security and defence conference.

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China-Asean relations

Will other Southeast Asian countries copy Indonesia’s joint China drill?

The recent exercise in strategically sensitive waters east of Taiwan may set a precedent for other Asean members.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Indonesian counterpart Sugiono meet for talks in Jakarta on Friday. Photo: EPA
US-China relations

Pentagon official hails ‘stronger’ military ties with PLA at anniversary event

Speaking at the Chinese embassy, US deputy assistant defence secretary Alvaro Smith says ‘clear, steady progress’ is being made.

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The Philippines

Sanctioned but defiant: Philippine defence chief says China talks ‘not possible’

Blacklisted by Beijing, a defiant Gilberto Teodoro Jnr demands China ‘get out’ of waters Manila claims.

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China’s Communist Party

What a seating chart reveals about the future of China’s military leadership

Two generals appear near top PLA officers at a high-profile event, signalling their swift rise to fill gaps left by anti-graft campaign.

Chinese military officers in uniform attend an evening gala marking the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party in Beijing on Monday. Photo: CCTV
US-China relations

Editorial | Shangri-La Dialogue has outlived its usefulness for China

While Washington and Beijing softened their rhetoric this year, the US-dominated forum is exhausting its function as a space for engagement.

Major General Meng Xiangqing (left) of the PLA National Defence University, and head of the Chinese delegation, gestures as he attends the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore on May 31. Photo: AFP
China-UK relations

Exclusive | Chinese, UK delegations discuss military engagement at Shangri-La Dialogue

Major General Meng Xiangqing invites British military officials to Xiangshan Forum and Zhuhai air show in China.

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US-China relations

Hegseth at Asia defence gathering, China-EU tensions, Computex

This week: US allies wait to hear from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Singapore, EU works on China trade measures and Huawei announces chip advance. Next week: Computex is held in Taiwan, China reveals PMI, UK foreign minister visits Beijing, and more.

2026 Xi-Trump summits

What to watch at Shangri-La Dialogue after Trump’s China visit resets ties

Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth’s speech at Asian security forum to serve as important gauge of whether summit has stabilised US-China relations.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s trip to this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue marks his fourth visit to the Indo-Pacific region as Pentagon chief. Photo: Reuters
China’s military

China defence chief Dong Jun tipped to skip this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue

The regional security forum opens on Friday in Singapore with no official word yet on who will lead the Chinese delegation.

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Dong Jun pictured at last year’s Asean-China defence ministers’ lunch in Kuala Lumpur. Photo: AFP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

Salute to China? Protocol-perfect Trump charms social media as he meets Xi

US and Chinese leaders project close rapport on day 1 of summit, as body language expert notes deferential ‘softer approach’ from Trump.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

The longest day – how the Xi-Trump summit reset China-US ties in 12 hours

The two leaders follow a morning of talks with a tour of the Temple of Heaven and a state banquet.

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2026 Xi-Trump summits

What does Pete Hegseth’s presence in China say about Trump’s military agenda?

US arms sales to Taiwan, nuclear weapons and military-to-military communication will be among topics discussed, experts say.

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US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (third from top) descends the steps of Air Force One as President Donald Trump walks with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng during a welcome ceremony in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: AP
2026 Xi-Trump summits

US defence secretary joins Trump on China trip in rare diplomatic move

Pete Hegseth becomes first Pentagon chief to accompany a US president to Beijing since Richard Nixon’s 1972 visit.

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China-Asean relations

China calls on Cambodia for ‘shared security and risks’ during global turmoil

Defence and foreign ministers meet in Phnom Penh after Hun Manet describes China as a ‘most important and most trustworthy good friend’.

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South China Sea

Why China and Vietnam are shifting from confrontation to calm in South China Sea

Disagreements continue, but the two sides are showing notable restraint in contrast with Beijing’s fierce exchanges with Manila.

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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, in Hanoi on March 17. They co-chaired a meeting on bilateral cooperation. Photo: Xinhua
China-Asean relations

China, Vietnam agree to live-fire drills in naval exercise boost

Agreement between naval commanders ahead of 40th joint exercise comes as Vietnamese leader To Lam hails ties with China as ‘top priority’.

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Chinese and Vietnamese navy vessels pictured during their 39th joint patrol, in the Gulf of Tonkin in November 2025. Photo: Xinhua
China’s military drills

In joint patrols with China, Vietnam steers course between 2 powers

The Gulf of Tonkin will be the backdrop this week for naval activities despite a five-decade maritime dispute.

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China-Asean relations

Will Paracels dispute overshadow China-Vietnam drive for closer strategic ties?

Foreign, defence and public security ministers are to meet after images suggested China had started land reclamation work at Antelope Reef.

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Two Sessions 2026

Stability comes first: Chinese defence chief signals Beijing’s strategic caution

Dong Jun’s remarks stressing prudence as Xi-Trump summit looms and amid Iran war suggest no military action on Taiwan for now, analysts say.

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Dong Jun has served as China’s defence minister since December 2023. Photo: Reuters
China-Russia relations

China and Russia to bolster defence ties to counter risks

Call marks first ministerial-level exchange between Beijing and Moscow since US raid on Venezuela and Trump’s stronger words on Greenland.

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Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov inspect an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing in October 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
US-China relations

Senior US and Chinese defence officials continue ‘military-to-military’ dialogue

Talks follow Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth’s meeting with China’s Minister of National Defence, Admiral Dong Jun, to help stabilise ties.

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Taiwan

US invites Taiwan KMT chief to Washington, stresses top priority to ‘avoid war’

De facto ambassador Raymond Greene meets opposition party’s new chairwoman two weeks after the Xi-Trump summit in Busan.

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