China’s appointment for the first time of a naval officer as its defence minister is a signal that President Xi Jinping is serious about his 2017 pledge to turn a traditional land power into a maritime one.
But the promotion of Admiral Dong Jun, 62, from navy commander on Dec 29 is also a hint that China is gearing up for a possible showdown with the United States over Taiwan and in the South China Sea, with his experience having been in these regions.
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