The 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened at the Beijing International Convention Center on September 16, 2026, as reported by the Chinese Communist Party’s official media Xinhua News Agency. Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun attended the forum and delivered a keynote speech.
The Xinhua News Agency report consisted of four paragraphs totaling about 390 words, with the middle two paragraphs summarizing Dong Jun’s speech, totaling around 290 words. The report was accompanied by two on-site photos from the event, both strangely lacking any visible presence of Dong Jun.
On the same evening, China’s state television CCTV reported the opening of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum during its nightly news. While the broadcast showed a distant shot of Dong Jun speaking, the text did not mention his attendance or keynote speech as documented in the Xinhua report.
Compared to the previous two years where Dong Jun attended and spoke at the Xiangshan Forum, reports from the Chinese Communist Party’s official media, especially CCTV, displayed abnormal discrepancies once again.
One year earlier, the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened on September 18, 2025, at the Beijing International Convention Center, with Defense Minister Dong Jun in attendance delivering a keynote speech. The Xinhua report, approximately 380 words, included three on-site photos, none of which depicted Dong Jun. Particularly noteworthy was the top photo showing an empty stage with no one present.
That evening, CCTV reported on the opening of the 12th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, with the on-screen text omitting Dong Jun’s attendance and keynote speech. However, the broadcast did show a close-up shot of Dong Jun speaking for three seconds.
Going back two years to September 13, 2024, the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum opened with Dong Jun in attendance, reading a congratulatory message from Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and delivering a keynote speech. The Xinhua report, roughly 400 words, included four on-site photos. The first photo captured Dong Jun delivering a speech at the lectern with three large screens displaying a close-up of him. The second photo showed Dong Jun speaking front and center at the lectern.
That evening, CCTV reported on the opening of the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum, mentioning Dong Jun’s participation, Xi’s message, his keynote speech, and even broadcasting Dong Jun’s speech content. The report included a distant shot of Dong Jun speaking and a three-second close-up.
Comparing the three Xiangshan Forums from 2024 to 2026, Xi Jinping only sent a congratulatory message in 2024. Both Xinhua News Agency and CCTV reports regarding Dong Jun’s presence at the opening ceremony have gradually diminished in detail year by year, especially in CCTV’s case, as noticeable by the lack of close-up shots this year compared to the previous.
Dong Jun, born in October 1961 in Yantai, Shandong, has risen through the ranks within the Chinese navy. He assumed the position of Defense Minister on December 29, 2023, succeeding Li Shangfu. Amid rumors surrounding Dong Jun’s standing following Miao Hua’s downfall, various sources reported on investigations into Dong Jun, though official statements denied such claims.
In the past three years, a significant number of Chinese generals have faced repercussions, with 22 senior generals dismissed from their positions as deputies to the National People’s Congress. The remaining members of the 20th Central Military Commission have dwindled down to only Chairman Xi Jinping and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin.
Among the six active senior generals in China, only Zhang Shengmin and Dong Jun were promoted to the rank of general after the 19th National Congress, during Miao Hua’s tenure as Political Commissar of the Military Commission’s Political Work Department. The other four, Yang Zhibin, Han Shengyan, Zhang Shuguang, and Wang Gang, were all promoted to the rank of general within the past year.
At the 5th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in October 2025, Zhang Shengmin was promoted to Vice Chairman of the Military Commission but did not ascend to the Political Bureau. Despite serving as Defense Minister for nearly three years, Dong Jun has yet to be appointed as a member of the Central Military Commission or the State Council, making him the lowest-ranking Defense Minister in the history of the Chinese Communist Party.
Dong Jun, born in October 1961, is approaching the mandatory retirement age of 65 for generals. His future prospects may involve serving beyond the age limit amid the decline of senior generals and vacant military commission positions, retiring around the time of the 21st Party Congress, or facing a fate similar to other dismissed generals, either during his tenure or post-retirement.
Dong Jun’s future trajectory will serve as a vital indicator of the Chinese Communist Party’s political landscape, particularly regarding military purges and personnel movements.
This article was originally published in Epoch Times on September 17, 2026.