China signals maritime ambitions with first defence minister from navy

China’s appointment for the first time of a naval officer as its defence minister is a signal that President Xi Jinping is serious about his 2017 pledge to turn a traditional land power into a maritime one.

But the promotion of Admiral Dong Jun, 62, from navy commander on Dec 29 is also a hint that China is gearing up for a possible showdown with the United States over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, with his experience having been in these regions.

“Dong Jun’s appointment is part of Xi’s aspiration to turn China into a ‘strong maritime nation’,” a military analyst told The Straits Times, requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to foreign media.

A native of the eastern coastal province of Shandong, Adm Dong has been in leadership roles in the navy over the past 10 years.

In 2013, he was appointed deputy commander of the East Sea Fleet – one of the navy’s three fleets – which is responsible for security in the East China Sea, encompassing Taiwan. In 2016, the fleet became part of the Eastern Theatre Command when the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was restructured.

He was in this position until 2014, when he became the navy’s deputy chief of staff.

In January 2017, Adm Dong was promoted to become deputy commander of the Southern Theatre Command, one of the PLA’s five regional commands. Its primary missions are maintaining security in the South China Sea and likely supporting the Eastern Theatre Command in any major amphibious landing in Taiwan.

He became the navy’s deputy commander in March 2021, and served as commander from September 2021 until his most recent promotion to defence minister.

Adm Dong is tipped to become one of the Cabinet’s five state councillors – a position that is just below the vice-premiers and above the ministers – during the annual full session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) or Parliament and its advisory body in March 2024.

He will be eyeing a seat in the top brass, taking the place of his predecessor, General Li Shangfu, as one of four members of the Central Military Commission (CMC) at the third plenum of the Communist Party of China’s (CPC) 205-member Central Committee to be held in January or February 2024.

If confirmed, the navy will have two seats on the CMC.