In recent years, within the infighting of the Chinese Communist Party’s military, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun has emerged as a survivor and has recently been granted the opportunity to go on an official visit. There are four possible reasons why Dong Jun has remained unscathed amid the turmoil within the CCP military.
On March 13, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the CCP announced that Wang Yi, member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs, along with Wang Xiaohong, member of the CCP Central Secretariat and Minister of Public Security, and Dong Jun, Minister of National Defense, will attend the first ministerial-level meeting of the “3+3” strategic dialogue mechanism between China and Vietnam from March 15 to 17.
Dong Jun’s immediate overseas trip following the conclusion of the “Two Sessions” has attracted significant attention.
Dong Jun is a member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP and was appointed as the new Minister of National Defense on December 29, 2023, following the downfall of Li Shangfu. He is the first Minister of National Defense with a background in the navy since the establishment of the CCP.
Hailing from Shandong, Dong Jun’s promotion to Minister of National Defense from his previous post as Commander of the Navy is believed to be linked to his shared Shandong heritage with Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan.
Some viewpoints suggest that Dong Jun’s ascension from Navy Commander to Minister of National Defense was recommended by former Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Miao Hua, to Xi Jinping. Miao Hua was Xi Jinping’s confidant and was expelled from the Party and the military in October of last year.
Despite reports by the British Financial Times in November 27, 2024, of an investigation into Dong Jun by the CCP authorities, the Ministry of National Defense denied these claims during a routine press conference the following day, instead reporting Miao Hua’s suspension pending investigation.
Since assuming the role of Minister of National Defense, Dong Jun has not been promoted to the positions of member of the Central Military Commission or State Council, making him the Minister of National Defense with the lowest status in the history of the CCP.
During the 20th Fourth Plenary Session in October of last year, the CCP Military Commission only appointed Zhang Shengmin as Vice Chairman, leaving Dong Jun out of the Commission.
The sudden downfall of CCP Military Commission Vice-Chairman Zhang Yuxia and Commission Member Liu Zhenli on January 24, 2026, has attracted international attention. The CCP National Defense Ministry website indicates that three days after Zhang Yuxia’s downfall, on January 27, Dong Jun held a video call with Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu, demonstrating that he was not affected by the recent wave of purges.
On February 10 this year, Xi Jinping extended New Year greetings to all military personnel via a video conference at the Bayi Building in Beijing, accompanied by Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun. Although Dong Jun’s back was turned to the camera, analysts believe this was the highest level of treatment he has received.
Independent commentator Xiangyang expressed on X platform that since the removal of Zhang Yuxia, who had attempted to establish a separate central entity, half a month had passed. He first comforted veteran officers stationed in Beijing, then conducted a video conference with the Central Military Commission (with only the two of them), and Peng Liyuan, fearing a visually unpleasing scene due to few people, specifically had Minister of National Defense Dong Jun, a senior diplomat conveying military information, join in, creating a somewhat darkly humorous scenario.
Xiangyang noted that apart from the only civilian Minister of National Defense, Geng Biao, every former Minister of National Defense has concurrently served as a member or vice chairman of the Military Commission. Sitting side by side with the top leader and the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission in this instance marks the peak of Dong Jun’s career.
At the conclusion of the CCP’s “Two Sessions” on March 12, Dong Jun was one of the few active generals in attendance. Amid the major purge, there are only four active generals: Vice Chairman of the Military Commission Zhang Shengmin, Minister of National Defense Dong Jun, Commander of the Eastern Theater Command Yang Zhibin, and Commander of the Central Theater Command Han Shengyan, both promoted to the rank of general in December last year.
Regarding Dong Jun emerging as a rare survivor in the turmoil of the CCP military, Chinese affairs expert Li Lin suggests that there are approximately four reasons why Dong Jun has managed to stay out of trouble:
First, there may indeed be a close relationship with Peng Liyuan, affording him protection. Second, he may have cooperated with investigations and ensured his survival by providing information, such as reportedly disclosing issues involving Miao Hua. Third, the authorities themselves may have strategic and diplomatic needs. Faced with deteriorating geopolitical situations, Xi Jinping requires someone responsible for military diplomacy. Constantly replacing Defense Ministers could exacerbate military unrest and worsen international perceptions, so for now, retaining Dong Jun temporarily serves to maintain surface stability. The fourth reason could be that Xi’s purges were too harsh, and now there is an urgency to navigate the leadership vacuum left by the downfall of figures like Zhang Yuxia and He Weidong, with Dong Jun’s issues postponed for later handling and safety still uncertain.