Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

The Minister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China is a member of the State Council and is head of the Ministry of National Defense.

The Minister is primarily responsible for liasion activities with foreign governments. Unlike most other nations, the People's Liberation Army is not part of the Ministry of National Defense but rather is subordinate to the Central Military Commission and the Minister is not the highest ranking position within the military. The Minister is always a military officer and usually one of the military vice-chairmen of the CMC.

The current Minister is General Cao Gangchuan.