Defence post seen as consolation prize for Chang Wanquan

General Chang Wanquan will become the public face of the People's Liberation Army and lead its diplomatic efforts after he was named a state councillor and Minister of National Defence yesterday.

Chang, 64, who succeeds the retiring General Liang Guanglie, is the sole general in the new cabinet headed by Premier Li Keqiang.

He was named a member of the Central Military Commission in the 17th national party congress six years ago and retained the position at the 18th congress last November. He given the same title in the parallel state CMC last week.

Chang will enjoy limited military power despite being the third-ranked of 10 military officers on the CMC behind vice-chairmen General Fan Changlong and General Xu Qiliang.

"The function of the Chinese defence minister is very different from Western counterparts. Our defence minister only handles ceremonial affairs for external relations and there is no concrete political task," said Xu Guangyu , a former general and senior researcher at the Beijing-based China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.

As the CMC's second youngest member before the reshuffle at the 18th national congress, Chang had long been seen as a front runner to become a CMC vice-chairman and secure membership of the party's Politburo. But he failed to obtain either position.