Ministry of National Defense (China)

The Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China (Chinese: 中华人民共和国国防部; pinyin: Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guófángbù), or the "National Defense Ministry" (Chinese: 国防部; pinyin: Guófángbù) for short, is the second-ranked cabinet level executive department under the State Council. It is headed by the Minister of National Defense.

Not to be confused with Ministry of National Defense (Republic of China).
Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China
中华人民共和国国防部
Zhōnghuá Rénmín Gònghéguó Guófángbù
Emblem of the People's Republic of China
Agency overview
Formed28 September 1954 (1954-09-28)
TypeConstituent Department of the State Council (cabinet-level executive department)
JurisdictionGovernment of China
HeadquartersFuxing Road, Beijing
Agency executive
Parent agencyState Council
Central Military Commission
Websitemod.gov.cn (in English)
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The MND was set up according to a decision adopted by the 1st Session of the 1st National People's Congress in 1954. In contrast to practice in other nations, the MND does not exercise command authority over the People's Liberation Army (PLA), which is instead subordinate to the Central Military Commission (CMC). Instead, the MND itself only serves as liaison body representing the CMC and PLA when dealing with foreign militaries in military exchange and cooperation.

Its official responsibilities had been to exercise unified administration over the development of the armed forces of the country such as recruitment, organization, equipment, training, scientific military research of the PLA and the ranking and remuneration of the officers and servicemen. However, in reality these responsibilities are carried out by the CMC's 15 departments.

Structure

There are very few departments under the Ministry of National Defense and actually operated by the CMC departments.

  • Information Bureau
  • International Communications Bureau
  • Foreign Affairs Office
  • Peacekeeping Office
    • Peacekeeping Affairs Centre
  • Mobilisation Office

Minister

According to the Constitution of China, the Minister of National Defense is nominated by the Chinese Premier and confirmed by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee.[1]

Although the Ministry itself does not exercise much authority, the role of the Minister of National Defense has always been viewed as one of the most important positions in the country's political system. The position of Minister has always been given to an active military officer (with the exception of Geng Biao), a State Councilor and a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee and member (sometimes a Vice Chairman) of the Central Military Commission, enabling him to take part in the decision making in the PLA, the Government and the Party. In 2018, the incumbent Wei Fenghe became the first Minister to have not come from the PLA Ground Forces.

List of Defense Ministers
No. Portrait MinisterTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
1
Dehuai, PengMarshal
Peng Dehuai
彭德怀
(1898–1974)		28 September 195417 September 19594 years, 6 months PLA Ground Force
2
Biao, LinMarshal
Lin Biao
林彪
(1907–1971)		17 September 195913 September 197112 years, 4 months PLA Ground Force
Vacant
1971–75
3
Jianying, YeMarshal
Ye Jianying
叶剑英
(1897–1986)		17 January 197526 February 19783 years, 1 month PLA Ground Force
4
Xiangqian, XuMarshal
Xu Xiangqian
徐向前
(1901–1990)		26 February 19786 March 19812 years, 11 months PLA Ground Force
5
Biao, GengGeng Biao
耿飚
(1909–2000)		6 March 198119 November 19832 years, 3 monthsFormerly  PLA Ground Force
6
Aiping, ZhangGeneral
Zhang Aiping
张爱萍
(1910–2003)		19 November 198212 April 19885 years, 4 months PLA Ground Force
7
Jiwei, QinGeneral
Qin Jiwei
秦基伟
(1914–1997)		12 April 198829 March 19934 years, 11 months PLA Ground Force
8
Haotian, ChiGeneral
Chi Haotian
迟浩田
(born 1929)		29 March 199317 March 20039 years, 11 months PLA Ground Force
9
Gangchuan, CaoGeneral
Cao Gangchuan
曹刚川
(born 1935)		17 March 200317 March 20085 years PLA Ground Force
10
Guanglie, LiangGeneral
Liang Guanglie
梁光烈
(born 1940)		17 March 200816 March 20135 years PLA Ground Force
11
Wanquan, ChangGeneral
Chang Wanquan
常万全
(born 1949)		16 March 201319 March 20185 years PLA Ground Force
12
Fenghe, WeiGeneral
Wei Fenghe
魏凤和
(born 1954)		19 March 2018Incumbent4 years, 43 days PLA Rocket Force

See also

References

Citations
  1. Article 62 (5) of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China.

Sources
  • "Ministry of National Defence". SinoDefence.com. Archived from the original on 2007-11-09. Retrieved 2007-11-21.
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