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

The Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China ( or ) is a ministry under the State Council. It is headed by the Minister of National Defense. The MND was set up according to a decision adopted by the 1st Session of the 1st National People's Congress in 1954. In contrast to practice in other nations, the MND does not exercise command authority over the PLA, which is instead subordinate to the CMC. Instead, the MND itself only serves as liaison body representing the CMC and PLA when dealing with foreign militaries in military exchange and cooperation.

Its official responsibilities had been to exercise unified administration over the development of the armed forces of the country such as recruitment, organization, equipment, training, scientific military research of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the ranking and remuneration of the officers and servicemen. However, in reality these responsibilities are carried out by the four General Headquarters of the PLA, which are under the control of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

Structure
There are a number of departments under the Ministry of National Defence:
 * General Office
 * Foreign Affairs Office
 * Peacekeeping Office
 * Conscription Office

The Ministry of National Defence General Office is in fact the same body as the General Staff Department General Office. Other offices are also staffed by personnel from the General Staff Department.

Minister
Although the Ministry itself does not exercise much authority, the role of the Minister of National Defence has always been viewed as one of the most important positions in the country’s political system. The Minister, always an active military officer, holds command authority as the most senior professional soldier of the PLA. Usually the Minister is also a Vice Chairman of the CMC, the State Councilor, and a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee Politburo, enabling him to take part in the decision making in the PLA, the Government, and the Party.

List of Ministers of National Defense

 * Marshal Peng Dehuai (1954-1959)
 * Marshal Lin Biao (1959-1971)
 * Marshal Ye Jianying (1975–1978)
 * Marshal Xu Xiangqian (1978–1981)
 * Geng Biao (1981–1982)
 * General Zhang Aiping (1982–1988)
 * General Qin Jiwei (1988–1993)
 * General Chi Haotian (1993–2003)
 * General Cao Gangchuan (2003–2008 )
 * General Liang Guanglie (2008-  )