Amidst rumours that the new Chinese defence minister had been placed under investigation for graft, Dong Jun appeared in public in Shanghai on Thursday (Dec 5) at a security forum. His appearance followed a call by Chinese President Xi Jinping a day earlier for the Chinese military to uphold stability as well as loyalty to the communist party.

Speaking at the forum focused on the Gulf of Guinea, Dong Jun said his nation was willing to cooperate with several African nations of the region, reported state news agency Xinhua.

Late last month, the Financial Times reported that Dong Jun had become China’s third defence minister in a row to be placed under investigation for alleged corruption. Dong was appointed as defence minister in December 2023, just after his predecessor Li Shangfu was removed from the post after serving for seven months.

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Both of Dong’s predecessors—Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe—were kicked out from the Communist Party for "serious violations of discipline", a euphemism for corruption.

The Communist Party released a statement at the time saying that the pair "betrayed the trust of the party and the Central Military Commission, seriously polluted the political environment of the military, and caused great damage to ... the image of its senior leaders".

Over the past year, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on alleged graft in the country's military.

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In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the military to act on corruption cases and strengthen its "war preparedness".

According to a Bloomberg report, US officials said the crackdown has been intensified as the country fears that corruption could affect China's ability to wage a war.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amidst rumours that the new Chinese defence minister had been placed under investigation for graft, Dong Jun appeared in public in Shanghai on Thursday (Dec 5) at a security forum.

Amidst rumours that the new Chinese defence minister had been placed under investigation for graft, Dong Jun appeared in public in Shanghai on Thursday (Dec 5) at a security forum. His appearance followed a call by Chinese President Xi Jinping a day earlier for the Chinese military to uphold stability as well as loyalty to the communist party. Speaking at the forum focused on the Gulf of Guinea, Dong Jun said his nation was willing to cooperate with several African nations of the region, reported state news agency Xinhua. Late last month, the Financial Times reported that Dong Jun had become China’s third defence minister in a row to be placed under investigation for alleged corruption. Dong was appointed as defence minister in December 2023, just after his predecessor Li Shangfu was removed from the post after serving for seven months. Also read: Pakistan’s China Debt For Power Plants Is Strangling Its Economy Both of Dong’s predecessors—Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe—were kicked out from the Communist Party for "serious violations of discipline", a euphemism for corruption. The Communist Party released a statement at the time saying that the pair "betrayed the trust of the party and the Central Military Commission, seriously polluted the political environment of the military, and caused great damage to ... the image of its senior leaders". Over the past year, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on alleged graft in the country's military. Watch: British Armed Forces Head Warns China Now A Nuclear Threat To The West × In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the military to act on corruption cases and strengthen its "war preparedness". According to a Bloomberg report, US officials said the crackdown has been intensified as the country fears that corruption could affect China's ability to wage a war. (With inputs from agencies)

Chinese defence minister Dong Jun makes public appearance amid reports of graft probe

An investigation has been launched against the Chinese Defence Minister&nbsp;Dong&nbsp;Jun as part of an anti-corruption probe, according to The Financial Times report.

As per the report, the investigation is part of a broader probe into China's military corruption.&nbsp;

Jun is&nbsp;the third defence minister of China in a row to fall under investigation for corruption.&nbsp;

He was appointed as defence minister in December 2023, just after Li Shangfu was&nbsp;removed from the post after serving for seven months.&nbsp;

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Both Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were kicked out from the Communist Party in June for "serious violations of discipline", a euphemism for corruption.

The Communist Party released a&nbsp;statement at the time saying that&nbsp;the pair "betrayed the trust of the party and the Central Military Commission, seriously polluted the political environment of the military, and caused great damage to ... the image of its senior leaders".

Over the past year, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on alleged graft in the country's military.&nbsp;

In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the military to act on corruption cases and strengthen its "war preparedness".

According to a Bloomberg report, US officials said the crackdown has been intensified as the country fears that corruption could affect China's ability to wage a war.&nbsp;

Last week, Jun declined to speak with&nbsp;US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defence ministers to discuss US actions over Taiwan.&nbsp;

As China's defence minister, Jun oversees the country's military diplomacy with other countries worldwide.&nbsp;

Recently, Jun oversaw a thaw in US-China military-to-military ties in September.&nbsp;

But Jun was not promoted to the six-member Central Military Commission (CMC), which is China's top military body.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-calls-supporters-not-to-let-anybody-take-your-power-netizens-ask-is-this-a-joke-779583">Kamala Harris calls supporters not to let 'anybody take your power', netizens ask 'Is this a joke?'</a>

Traditionally, China's defence minister has been part of the CMS, the body headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the State Council, China’s cabinet-level executive body.

Jun also was not&nbsp;appointed to the State Council during the government reshuffle in March 2024.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

An investigation has been launched against the Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun as part of an anti-corruption probe, according to The Financial Times report. As per the report, the investigation is part of a broader probe into China's military corruption.

An investigation has been launched against the Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun as part of an anti-corruption probe, according to The Financial Times report. As per the report, the investigation is part of a broader probe into China's military corruption. Jun is the third defence minister of China in a row to fall under investigation for corruption. He was appointed as defence minister in December 2023, just after Li Shangfu was removed from the post after serving for seven months. Also read | Bolsonaro 'actively participated' in 2022 coup plot: Police Both Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe were kicked out from the Communist Party in June for "serious violations of discipline", a euphemism for corruption. The Communist Party released a statement at the time saying that the pair "betrayed the trust of the party and the Central Military Commission, seriously polluted the political environment of the military, and caused great damage to ... the image of its senior leaders". Over the past year, the Chinese government has intensified its crackdown on alleged graft in the country's military. In November, Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered the military to act on corruption cases and strengthen its "war preparedness". According to a Bloomberg report, US officials said the crackdown has been intensified as the country fears that corruption could affect China's ability to wage a war. Last week, Jun declined to speak with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting of defence ministers to discuss US actions over Taiwan. As China's defence minister, Jun oversees the country's military diplomacy with other countries worldwide. Recently, Jun oversaw a thaw in US-China military-to-military ties in September. But Jun was not promoted to the six-member Central Military Commission (CMC), which is China's top military body. Also read | Kamala Harris calls supporters not to let 'anybody take your power', netizens ask 'Is this a joke?' Traditionally, China's defence minister has been part of the CMS, the body headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the State Council, China’s cabinet-level executive body. Jun also was not appointed to the State Council during the government reshuffle in March 2024. (With inputs from agencies)

Dong Jun becomes China's third defence minister in a row to face corruption probe: Report

General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China's combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top&nbsp;contender&nbsp;to replace the country's defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter.

The appointment of Liu to replace Defence Minister Li Shangfu - which one of the people said was likely to happen before Beijing holds an international security forum later this month - could boost military engagement with the United States amid regional tensions, three military analysts told Reuters.

Li was sanctioned by the US&nbsp;in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role. China has demanded the curbs - which include a visa ban and prohibitions on conducting US&nbsp;financial transactions - be lifted. Liu, 59, is not under Western sanctions.

Currently the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Liu was described as Li's likely replacement by a person with direct knowledge of the matter, as well as two people close to the military and two regional officials with close knowledge of Chinese politics. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information.

China's defence ministry and State Council information office did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to reach Liu himself for comment.

A US&nbsp;Department of Defense spokesperson declined to comment on Liu's possible appointment but said the US&nbsp;"continues to believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication" with China.

Li's absence has not been officially explained, though Reuters reported last month that he was under investigation for corrupt procurement of military equipment in a previous role.

If his departure is confirmed, Li will be the second senior minister to lose his job in recent months.

Qin Gang was removed as foreign minister in July, one month after he was last seen in public.

It is unclear whether Li will retain his position as one of China's five state councillors, a post outranking a regular minister. Qin has not been officially removed from his post as state councillor.

Any decision to improve&nbsp;military-to-military ties - frozen by Beijing when then-US&nbsp;House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022 - would be made by President Xi Jinping, who has the ultimate say in all important policies and appointments.

Xi is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and chair of the CMC, China's top defence decision-making body, on which Liu already sits.

The person with direct knowledge of the matter said Liu's appointment would likely be announced before foreign defence officials visit Beijing on Oct. 29-31 for the Xiangshan Forum, a major international security seminar.

Procedurally, the appointment and removal of high-level officials is announced by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which takes guidance from the Chinese Communist Party's elite Politburo. The politburo is expected to meet at the end of this month.

"If Xi Jinping is indeed intent on re-engaging in top-level military engagement with the US, this could well present an opportunity for the Pentagon to finally reconnect with the (People's Liberation Army) high command," said James Char, a scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Reuters reported Wednesday that Washington has accepted an invitation to the Xiangshan Forum, though it is unlikely that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will personally attend.

<h2>Public face of the military</h2>

China's Minister of National Defence has a largely diplomatic role with no direct command authority. The post is subordinate to a handful of other officials from the CMC, including the two vice chairmen under Xi.

Liu's appointment could elevate the profile of the job, five analysts and military attaches told Reuters.

His recent experience leading the Joint Staff Department would allow foreign counterparts to deal with a figure at the centre of China's military operations and war planning, rather than a mere technocrat.

US&nbsp;defence officials have long wanted to reestablish routine communications with counterparts directly involved in command decisions.

"This could really help breathe some oxygen into China's military diplomacy," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute in Honolulu.

"Finally, the US&nbsp;might have someone they would really want to talk to," he said.

Liu is also one of the few recent Chinese military leaders with combat experience, having been involved in intense border fights with Vietnamese troops in 1986 - part of years of skirmishes that followed Beijing's invasion of northern Vietnam in 1979, according to Chinese media reports.

<h2>One-man rule</h2>

Defence diplomacy is seen by diplomats and analysts as an important part of Xi's push for a modernized military that can support China's growing international interests.

China's ships and planes will need greater access to ports and bases internationally to achieve Xi's goal of becoming the dominant world power.

The removal of two senior ministers in such quick succession "highlights the severe limitation of Xi's one-man rule," said Willy Lam, senior fellow at US&nbsp;think tank Jamestown Foundation.

"He prioritised loyalty over capability and honesty when choosing who to put in power. Look how they turned out?"

Xi has made combating corruption a priority, particularly within the military, since he first became president. His defenders say the centralisaton of power is needed if China is successfully to navigate global tensions.

Qin was made foreign minister in Dec. 2022 and Li became defence minister in March. State news agency Xinhua reported in October 2022 that Xi decided on the senior appointments after personally conducting interviews with all the prospective candidates.

Air Force commander Chang Dingqiu is set to take over from Liu as Chief of the Joint Staff Department, according to three of the people familiar with the situation.

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General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China's combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender to replace the country's defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter.

General Liu Zhenli, the head of the military body responsible for China's combat operations and planning, has emerged as the top contender to replace the country's defence minister, who has not been seen in public for more than six weeks, according to five people familiar with the matter. The appointment of Liu to replace Defence Minister Li Shangfu - which one of the people said was likely to happen before Beijing holds an international security forum later this month - could boost military engagement with the United States amid regional tensions, three military analysts told Reuters. Li was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for an arms deal he secured with Russia in an earlier role. China has demanded the curbs - which include a visa ban and prohibitions on conducting US financial transactions - be lifted. Liu, 59, is not under Western sanctions. Currently the Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Liu was described as Li's likely replacement by a person with direct knowledge of the matter, as well as two people close to the military and two regional officials with close knowledge of Chinese politics. They spoke on condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information. China's defence ministry and State Council information office did not respond to requests for comment. Reuters was unable to reach Liu himself for comment. A US Department of Defense spokesperson declined to comment on Liu's possible appointment but said the US "continues to believe in the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication" with China. Li's absence has not been officially explained, though Reuters reported last month that he was under investigation for corrupt procurement of military equipment in a previous role. If his departure is confirmed, Li will be the second senior minister to lose his job in recent months. Qin Gang was removed as foreign minister in July, one month after he was last seen in public. It is unclear whether Li will retain his position as one of China's five state councillors, a post outranking a regular minister. Qin has not been officially removed from his post as state councillor. Any decision to improve military-to-military ties - frozen by Beijing when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taipei in August 2022 - would be made by President Xi Jinping, who has the ultimate say in all important policies and appointments. Xi is also Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and chair of the CMC, China's top defence decision-making body, on which Liu already sits. The person with direct knowledge of the matter said Liu's appointment would likely be announced before foreign defence officials visit Beijing on Oct. 29-31 for the Xiangshan Forum, a major international security seminar. Procedurally, the appointment and removal of high-level officials is announced by the National People's Congress Standing Committee, which takes guidance from the Chinese Communist Party's elite Politburo. The politburo is expected to meet at the end of this month. "If Xi Jinping is indeed intent on re-engaging in top-level military engagement with the US, this could well present an opportunity for the Pentagon to finally reconnect with the (People's Liberation Army) high command," said James Char, a scholar at Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. Reuters reported Wednesday that Washington has accepted an invitation to the Xiangshan Forum, though it is unlikely that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will personally attend. Public face of the military China's Minister of National Defence has a largely diplomatic role with no direct command authority. The post is subordinate to a handful of other officials from the CMC, including the two vice chairmen under Xi. Liu's appointment could elevate the profile of the job, five analysts and military attaches told Reuters. His recent experience leading the Joint Staff Department would allow foreign counterparts to deal with a figure at the centre of China's military operations and war planning, rather than a mere technocrat. US defence officials have long wanted to reestablish routine communications with counterparts directly involved in command decisions. "This could really help breathe some oxygen into China's military diplomacy," said Singapore-based defence analyst Alexander Neill, an adjunct fellow at the Pacific Forum, a foreign policy research institute in Honolulu. "Finally, the US might have someone they would really want to talk to," he said. Liu is also one of the few recent Chinese military leaders with combat experience, having been involved in intense border fights with Vietnamese troops in 1986 - part of years of skirmishes that followed Beijing's invasion of northern Vietnam in 1979, according to Chinese media reports. One-man rule Defence diplomacy is seen by diplomats and analysts as an important part of Xi's push for a modernized military that can support China's growing international interests. China's ships and planes will need greater access to ports and bases internationally to achieve Xi's goal of becoming the dominant world power. The removal of two senior ministers in such quick succession "highlights the severe limitation of Xi's one-man rule," said Willy Lam, senior fellow at US think tank Jamestown Foundation. "He prioritised loyalty over capability and honesty when choosing who to put in power. Look how they turned out?" Xi has made combating corruption a priority, particularly within the military, since he first became president. His defenders say the centralisaton of power is needed if China is successfully to navigate global tensions. Qin was made foreign minister in Dec. 2022 and Li became defence minister in March. State news agency Xinhua reported in October 2022 that Xi decided on the senior appointments after personally conducting interviews with all the prospective candidates. Air Force commander Chang Dingqiu is set to take over from Liu as Chief of the Joint Staff Department, according to three of the people familiar with the situation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Combat veteran is top contender to replace China's missing defence minister

China's defence chief Li Shangfu has not been seen in public for four weeks. His continued absence was earlier flagged by the US ambassador to Japan and later reports about Shangfu being under investigation for corruption charges surfaced. But now the effects of his absence are becoming visible in China's military diplomacy.

Defence minister's absence takes a toll on China's military diplomacy | WION

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has said a conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" for the world. Li made the comment during the Shangri-La security summit in Singapore over the weekend, adding that Beijing seeks dialogue over confrontation.

Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has said a conflict with the United States would be an "unbearable disaster" for the world. Li made the comment during the Shangri-La security summit in Singapore over the weekend, adding that Beijing seeks dialogue over confrontation. "China and the US have different systems and are different in many other ways," said Li who was giving his first major speech since taking on the role. "However, this should not keep the two sides from seeking common ground and common interests to grow bilateral ties and deepen cooperation," he said. "It is undeniable that a severe conflict or confrontation between China and the US will be an unbearable disaster for the world." WATCH | Thaw in U.S-China relationship? Spotlight on Beijing's state-led development, calls to rethink ties Beijing blames Washington The statement by Li comes after he declined an invitation to meet with his US counterpart Llyod Austin, along the sidelines of Asia’s top security summit. Beijing shot down the plans and blamed the US for the recent escalation in tension. It said Washington should “earnestly respect China’s sovereignty and security interests and concerns, immediately correct the wrongdoing, show sincerity, and create the necessary atmosphere and conditions for dialogue and communication between the two militaries". Austin termed the cancellation of the meeting as 'unfortunate', adding that without dialogue, any small incident could "spiral out of control". "You've heard me talk a number of times about the importance of countries with large, with significant capabilities, being able to talk to each other so you can manage crises and prevent things from spiralling out of control unnecessarily," he said. "We would hope that they would alter their actions, but since they haven't yet, I'm concerned about at some point having an incident that could very, very quickly spiral out of control." Also read | US defence secretary terms cancellation of talks with Chinese counterpart as ‘unfortunate’ Tensions rise between the two nations Both China and US have been at each other's case over myriad issues, ranging from Taiwan to territorial disputes in the South China Sea to US President's heavy-handedness on semiconductor chip exports to Beiji.ng. However, the recent flare-up in relations came last week when the US military alleged that the Chinese navy carried out “unsafe manoeuvres” near a US destroyer transiting the sensitive Taiwan Strait. Previously, the two nations locked horns when a Chinese plane “flew directly in front of and within 400 feet of the nose of the RC-135, forcing the US aircraft to fly through its wake turbulence". In a declassified video footage, a fighter plane could be seen crossing in front of the American aircraft which appears to be shaking due to the resulting turbulence. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Chinese defence minister says war with US would be 'unbearable disaster', seeks dialogue

US-sanctioned Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu is expected to travel to Delhi in April to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Defence ministers' meeting. The meet will take place from April 27 to 29, and comes under Indian chairmanship of the mega grouping. Defence minister Li Shangfu took charge in March and has been sanctioned by Washington under CAATSA law in the past. But being under sanctions is unlikely to impact his India visit given New Delhi doesn't follow unilateral sanctions by any country.

India has sent invites to all the members of the grouping for the meet, including Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Russian Defence minister Sergei Shoigu. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional inter-governmental organisation comprising eight member states, including China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The organisation covers over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, 40 per cent of the world population, and 30 per cent of global GDP. 
&nbsp;

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The visit by the Chinese defence minister will be the first such visit by a Chinese defence minister to Delhi since the Galwan incident. The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of Actual control in eastern Ladakh that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. Last year, the then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had visited India, followed by the visit of the new Chinese FM Qin Gang this year for the G20 foreign ministers meet.&nbsp;

Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to visit Delhi in July to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The visit by the Chinese President, though it comes for a multilateral grouping, will be significant given the strained relations between India and China in the backdrop of Chinese aggressive actions in India's northern borders. 
 
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US-sanctioned Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu is expected to travel to Delhi in April to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Defence ministers' meeting.

US-sanctioned Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu is expected to travel to Delhi in April to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation or SCO Defence ministers' meeting. The meet will take place from April 27 to 29, and comes under Indian chairmanship of the mega grouping. Defence minister Li Shangfu took charge in March and has been sanctioned by Washington under CAATSA law in the past. But being under sanctions is unlikely to impact his India visit given New Delhi doesn't follow unilateral sanctions by any country. India has sent invites to all the members of the grouping for the meet, including Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Russian Defence minister Sergei Shoigu. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional inter-governmental organisation comprising eight member states, including China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The organisation covers over 60 per cent of the Eurasian landmass, 40 per cent of the world population, and 30 per cent of global GDP. ALSO WATCH | China calls US debt trap accusation 'unreasonable' The visit by the Chinese defence minister will be the first such visit by a Chinese defence minister to Delhi since the Galwan incident. The Galwan incident of 2020 saw Chinese aggressive action at the Line of Actual control in eastern Ladakh that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers. China, after much delay, accepted that it lost four of its soldiers, a claim that remains doubtful given Beijing's track record on transparency. Last year, the then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had visited India, followed by the visit of the new Chinese FM Qin Gang this year for the G20 foreign ministers meet. Chinese President Xi Jinping is also expected to visit Delhi in July to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The visit by the Chinese President, though it comes for a multilateral grouping, will be significant given the strained relations between India and China in the backdrop of Chinese aggressive actions in India's northern borders. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

US sanctioned Chinese defence minister expected to travel to Delhi for SCO meet

China's rubber-stamp parliament— the National People's Congress (NPC)—on Sunday gave approval to key appointments in the government as it gears towards tackling economic challenges on the home front and abroad.

Among the key appointments was one of the defence minister&nbsp;and Li Shangfu, a US-sanctioned military general, was nominated for the top post.

The 65-year-old general will succeed Wei Fenghe, who had recently stepped down from the Central Military Commission at the Communist Party’s congress in October.

Before being elevated to the top post, Gen Li was appointed to Communist Party’s Central Military Commission, thus becoming the first soldier on the body from the army’s Strategic Support Force, the branch created in 2015 and restructured to focus on space, cyber, political and electronic warfare, according to Bloomberg.

He was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for allegedly facilitating the transfer of Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 missile system equipment from Russian arms seller Rosoboronexport to China.

<h2>China: Li Shangfu to be new Defence Minister; newly-elected Li Qiang sets tone for his term</h2>

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At that time, Gen Li was the director of the Equipment Development Department at the top military commission overseeing Chinese defence technology. &nbsp;

Moreover, the US State Department had also imposed sanctions on Gen Li and his department, along with Russian entities, for their alleged role in interference of the United States election process, and “unacceptable behaviour in eastern Ukraine, and other malign activities”, the statement said.

In other notable appointments, China's Premier Li Qiang nominated Ding Xuexiang, Zhang Guoqing, Liu Guozhong and He Lifeng as vice premiers.

China also decided to retain Liu Kun, 66, as the finance minister and Yi Gang, 65, as the governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC)—as both men have reached the official retirement age of 65.

Wang Wentao was retained as the commerce minister, while Zheng Shanjie, governor and deputy party secretary of Zhejiang province, was approved to take over as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the powerful&nbsp;state&nbsp;planner.

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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China's rubber-stamp parliament— the National People's Congress (NPC)—on Sunday gave approval to key appointments in the government as it gears towards tackling economic challenges on the home front and abroad.

China's rubber-stamp parliament— the National People's Congress (NPC)—on Sunday gave approval to key appointments in the government as it gears towards tackling economic challenges on the home front and abroad. Among the key appointments was one of the defence minister and Li Shangfu, a US-sanctioned military general, was nominated for the top post. The 65-year-old general will succeed Wei Fenghe, who had recently stepped down from the Central Military Commission at the Communist Party’s congress in October. Before being elevated to the top post, Gen Li was appointed to Communist Party’s Central Military Commission, thus becoming the first soldier on the body from the army’s Strategic Support Force, the branch created in 2015 and restructured to focus on space, cyber, political and electronic warfare, according to Bloomberg. He was sanctioned by the US in 2018 for allegedly facilitating the transfer of Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 missile system equipment from Russian arms seller Rosoboronexport to China. China: Li Shangfu to be new Defence Minister; newly-elected Li Qiang sets tone for his term At that time, Gen Li was the director of the Equipment Development Department at the top military commission overseeing Chinese defence technology. Moreover, the US State Department had also imposed sanctions on Gen Li and his department, along with Russian entities, for their alleged role in interference of the United States election process, and “unacceptable behaviour in eastern Ukraine, and other malign activities”, the statement said. In other notable appointments, China's Premier Li Qiang nominated Ding Xuexiang, Zhang Guoqing, Liu Guozhong and He Lifeng as vice premiers. China also decided to retain Liu Kun, 66, as the finance minister and Yi Gang, 65, as the governor of the People's Bank of China (PBOC)—as both men have reached the official retirement age of 65. Wang Wentao was retained as the commerce minister, while Zheng Shanjie, governor and deputy party secretary of Zhejiang province, was approved to take over as head of the National Development and Reform Commission, the powerful state planner. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

China’s parliament names US-sanctioned Gen Li Shangfu as defence minister

The newly-appointed Chinese Premier Li Qiang has announced four new Vice Premiers, the Chinese Premier has also nominated China's future minister of Defence Ministers of State, Security and Public Security as well. With this the newly-elected top official has set the tone for how he is going to monitor the world's second-largest economy.

China: Li Shangfu to be new Defence Minister; newly-elected Li Qiang sets tone for his term

China has said that the main purpose of their nuclear weapons is self-defence and although they have made “Impressive progress” in expanding their nuclear arsenal over time, they do not have intention in using them for any other reason. During the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe was asked about reports suggesting that China has created around 100 new nuclear missile silos in the last year alone. Fenghe did not answer directly but said that China "has always pursued an appropriate path to developing nuclear capabilities for protection”.

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"China has developed its capabilities for over five decades. It's fair to say there has been impressive progress. China's ... policy is consistent. We use it for self-defence. We will not be the first to use nuclear (weapons)," the defence minister said according to a report by Reuters.

There were a few concerns expressed by the United States State Department last year about China’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and even decided to ask China to engage with them "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilising arms races" to keep maintaining the peace.

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Fenghe made it clear that the ultimate goal of the nuclear arsenal that China possesses right now is to deter or completely prevent nuclear war. There were no comments made about the reports of China increasing their weapons, but he said that all of their existing ones are completely functional.

"We developed nuclear capabilities to protect the hard work of the Chinese people and protect our people from the scourge of the nuclear warfare," he said.

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(With inputs from agencies)

China has said that the main purpose of their nuclear weapons is self-defence and although they have made “Impressive progress” in expanding their nuclear arsenal over time, they do not have intention in using them for any other reason.

China has said that the main purpose of their nuclear weapons is self-defence and although they have made “Impressive progress” in expanding their nuclear arsenal over time, they do not have intention in using them for any other reason. During the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe was asked about reports suggesting that China has created around 100 new nuclear missile silos in the last year alone. Fenghe did not answer directly but said that China "has always pursued an appropriate path to developing nuclear capabilities for protection”. Also read | US strategy for Indo-Pacific region fueling future conflict: China "China has developed its capabilities for over five decades. It's fair to say there has been impressive progress. China's ... policy is consistent. We use it for self-defence. We will not be the first to use nuclear (weapons)," the defence minister said according to a report by Reuters. There were a few concerns expressed by the United States State Department last year about China’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and even decided to ask China to engage with them "on practical measures to reduce the risks of destabilising arms races" to keep maintaining the peace. Also read | In pics: Thousands stage protest for stricter guns laws in US Fenghe made it clear that the ultimate goal of the nuclear arsenal that China possesses right now is to deter or completely prevent nuclear war. There were no comments made about the reports of China increasing their weapons, but he said that all of their existing ones are completely functional. "We developed nuclear capabilities to protect the hard work of the Chinese people and protect our people from the scourge of the nuclear warfare," he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. (With inputs from agencies)

China's nuclear weapons are completely for self-defence, says defence minister

Australia and China's defence ministers met for the first time in three years on Sunday, with the talks described as "an important first step" following a period of strained ties.&nbsp;

Richard Marles, whose centre-left government came to power in May, held talks for over an hour with China's Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore.&nbsp;

Marles described the meeting as "an important first step" and "very significant".

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"It was an opportunity to have a very frank and full exchange in which I raised a number of issues of concern to Australia," said Marles, who is also Australia's deputy prime minister.

The Chinese government did not offer any immediate comment following the meeting.

Relations between Beijing and Canberra have grown frosty in recent years after the latter called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and banned telecom giant Huawei from building Australia's 5G network.

China -- Australia's biggest trading partner -- responded by imposing tariffs and disrupting more than a dozen key industries, including wine, barley and coal.

Marles said the recent interception of an Australian patrol plane in international airspace by a Chinese warplane as well as Australia's "abiding interest in the Pacific" were among topics discussed.&nbsp;

This included Australia's focus on ensuring "that the countries of the Pacific are not put in a position of increased militarisation", he said.

Watch |&nbsp;The final day of the&nbsp;security summit&nbsp;is underway: China remains firm on the Taiwan issue

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'Change of tone'

The patrol plane incident, described by Canberra as "very dangerous", happened on May 26, when a Chinese aircraft intercepted the Australian jet and released a cloud of small aluminium strips, known as chaff.&nbsp;

Australia is battling for influence with China among Pacific island states, with the new government playing catch-up after years of relations being soured by the previous Australian leadership's foot-dragging on climate change.&nbsp;

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has recently been visiting the region and, while he failed to secure support for a regional security pact, he still inked a series of deals.&nbsp;

Australia's new foreign minister, Penny Wong, has paid visits to the Pacific islands since taking office.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-talks-tough-says-will-not-hesitate-to-start-war-over-taiwan-487070">China talks tough, says will 'not hesitate to start war' over Taiwan</a>

Marles underscored the importance of "open lines of dialogue" with China.

"Australia and China's relationship is complex. And it's precisely because of this complexity that it is really important that we are engaging in dialogue right now."

Asked about next steps, he said Australia wanted to move in a "very sober and very deliberate manner. We don't underestimate the difficulties that we've had in our bilateral relationship".

He stressed that "while there is a change of tone, there is absolutely no change in the substance of Australia's national interests".

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Australia and China's defence ministers met for the first time in three years on Sunday, with the talks described as "an important first step" following a period of strained ties.

Australia and China's defence ministers met for the first time in three years on Sunday, with the talks described as "an important first step" following a period of strained ties. Richard Marles, whose centre-left government came to power in May, held talks for over an hour with China's Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore. Marles described the meeting as "an important first step" and "very significant". Also read | Australia-France reach 555 million euro settlement deal "It was an opportunity to have a very frank and full exchange in which I raised a number of issues of concern to Australia," said Marles, who is also Australia's deputy prime minister. The Chinese government did not offer any immediate comment following the meeting. Relations between Beijing and Canberra have grown frosty in recent years after the latter called for an independent probe into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic and banned telecom giant Huawei from building Australia's 5G network. China -- Australia's biggest trading partner -- responded by imposing tariffs and disrupting more than a dozen key industries, including wine, barley and coal. Marles said the recent interception of an Australian patrol plane in international airspace by a Chinese warplane as well as Australia's "abiding interest in the Pacific" were among topics discussed. This included Australia's focus on ensuring "that the countries of the Pacific are not put in a position of increased militarisation", he said. Watch | The final day of the security summit is underway: China remains firm on the Taiwan issue 'Change of tone' The patrol plane incident, described by Canberra as "very dangerous", happened on May 26, when a Chinese aircraft intercepted the Australian jet and released a cloud of small aluminium strips, known as chaff. Australia is battling for influence with China among Pacific island states, with the new government playing catch-up after years of relations being soured by the previous Australian leadership's foot-dragging on climate change. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has recently been visiting the region and, while he failed to secure support for a regional security pact, he still inked a series of deals. Australia's new foreign minister, Penny Wong, has paid visits to the Pacific islands since taking office. Also read | China talks tough, says will 'not hesitate to start war' over Taiwan Marles underscored the importance of "open lines of dialogue" with China. "Australia and China's relationship is complex. And it's precisely because of this complexity that it is really important that we are engaging in dialogue right now." Asked about next steps, he said Australia wanted to move in a "very sober and very deliberate manner. We don't underestimate the difficulties that we've had in our bilateral relationship". He stressed that "while there is a change of tone, there is absolutely no change in the substance of Australia's national interests". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Australia, China defence ministers meet for first time in 3 years