China names navy ex-chief as new defence minister

BEIJING: China named a former navy commander as its new defence minister on Friday, months after his predecessor was sacked as part of a series of mysterious dismissals of military and political leaders.

Dong´s promotion comes at a sensitive time, as Beijing ups military pressure on the self-ruled island of Taiwan ahead of presidential elections next month and grows increasingly assertive in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

His predecessor Li Shangfu was ousted after seven months in the role following a lengthy absence from public view -- one in a series of recent high-level disappearances from the country´s military establishment and political class.

In July, foreign minister Qin Gang was removed from office after disappearing from the public eye for a month.

Both Qin and former defence minister Li were believed by experts to have been personally selected for their roles by President Xi Jinping.

Beijing has not given an official reason for either man´s removal.

Fighting alleged corruption has been a central theme of Xi´s rule, which has been punctuated by high-level removals and disappearances of officials.

Recent months have also seen an overhaul in the leadership of China´s secretive Rocket Force, the army unit that oversees Beijing´s nuclear arsenal, following media reports of a graft probe involving its former chief.