China Appoints Former Missile Force Commander As Defense Minister

  • Our Bureau
  • 09:09 AM, March 19, 2018
  • 4594
China Appoints Former Missile Force Commander As Defense Minister
China Appoints Former Missile Force Commander As Defense Minister

China’s former missile commander Lt. Gen. Wei Fenghe has been appointed as country’s new Defense Minister, amid concerns over the goals of rapid military modernization.

Wei named as the international face of China’s military, was among a series of appointments by the ceremonial legislature on the penultimate day of its annual session on Monday, AP reports.

As defense minister, Wei is outranked by President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, and two vice chairmen, but will be the main interface between China’s 2 million-member armed forces and the rest of the world’s militaries.

Wei was named head of the 2nd Artillery in 2012, then remained head of the missile command after it was renamed the Rocket Force in 2016 amid a reorganization of military units.

The head of the U.S. Strategic Command considers China’s ballistic missile program the world’s "most active and diverse.” It includes a range of short- and intermediate-range missile aimed at Taiwan, as well as road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. and its allies.

Also Read

China to Commence Research on Sixth-gen Jet Based on J-20 Stealth Fighter

March 13, 2018 @ 09:50 AM

China’s AG600 Amphibious Aircraft Prepares for Take-off From Water

March 12, 2018 @ 07:09 AM

China Using Barter Trade, Flexible Payment Terms to Push Arms Sales

March 7, 2018 @ 11:10 AM

China’s 2018 Defence Budget Set at $174.5 billion

March 5, 2018 @ 08:52 AM
FEATURES/INTERVIEWS