Senior Colonel Jiang Bin made his debut as the newly appointed spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on May 15, 2025. Photo: China's Ministry of National Defense

Senior Colonel Jiang Bin made his debut as the newly appointed spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense on Thursday, releasing information on recent military-related issues. Jiang is the ninth person to serve in this role and notably the first spokesperson born in the 1980s.

According to the ministry's official website, the ministry currently has two spokespersons - Zhang Xiaogang and Jiang Bin.

The official information shows that Jiang was appointed deputy director of the Ministry's information bureau in June 2024. Born in 1982 in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, he studied at the former PLA University of Foreign Languages and later at the University of Birmingham in the UK. Jiang previously served as head of the translation department at the Office for International Military Cooperation under the ministry.

Since assuming his role, Jiang has frequently appeared at the Ministry's press briefings. He has carefully studied the briefing process and actively engaged with journalists after events, demonstrating a humble and patient demeanor.

A former colleague of Jiang told the Global Times that Jiang is a skilled communicator with excellent English proficiency, known for being diligent and modest. "His briefing style combines gentleness with firmness," the colleague said. "He exudes calm professionalism while maintaining a clear and resolute position. I believe he will be an outstanding spokesperson."

At the same time, the ministry has removed the profile of Wu Qian from its official spokesperson page. Wu served in the role for nearly a decade - from June 2015 to March 2025 - the longest tenure among all previous spokespersons. 

Wu hosted his final regular press conference on March 27, where he addressed a wide range of questions related to the US, the Philippines, and Taiwan question. The Global Times learned that Wu has been reassigned to a new position and will continue to contribute to China's external communication efforts.

During his tenure, Wu has been widely recognized by the netizens for his down-to-earth demeanor and relatable communication style. One moment that endeared him to many netizens was dubbed the "read users' name episode." During a press conference, Wu read out garish user names of 10 netizens who had won a lucky draw on the ministry's official social media account, drawing laughter from reporters in the room and sparked viral praise online. Many netizens said they felt "charmed by the Ministry of National Defense's approachability."

With an active mind, Wu often blended official messages with cultural references and popular internet buzzwords, enhancing the impact of his briefings. At a press conference in February, for instance, he cited a line from the animated film Ne Zha 2 to send a stern warning to Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities that holding back the tide with a broom will only end up in self-destruction. "We will come and get you, sooner or later," Wu said. 

The remark went viral online before the press conference even concluded, with the phrase "Wu Qian: We will come and get you, sooner or later" trending across Chinese social media platforms.

The ministry's spokesperson system was first introduced in late 2007 when an official from the State Council Information Office announced plans to establish a regular spokesperson mechanism. The debut came in May 2008, when the ministry's first spokesperson, Hu Changming, made his public appearance at a press briefing organized by the State Council Information Office, introducing the military's role in the Wenchuan earthquake relief efforts.

In April 2011, the ministry announced to officially establish a regular press conference system, holding one briefing per month. In April 2025, to better introduce China's national defense and development of its military, the ministry's information bureau expanded and increased the frequency of its press briefings—from twice to three times per month.

Since the establishment of the ministry's information bureau, there have been a total of nine spokespersons. The first spokesperson duo was Hu Changming and Huang Xueping, followed by Geng Yansheng and Yang Yujun. After Geng retired upon reaching the age limit, Yang partnered with Wu Qian, forming a "dual overseas returnee" team, as both had studied in the UK. In February 2016, Ren Guoqiang became the sixth spokesperson since the position was created, and Tan Kefei became the seventh.

The current spokespersons are Zhang Xiaogang and Jiang Bin. According to his official biography, Zhang studied at the former PLA Nanjing Political College and the Academy of Military Sciences, earning a doctorate in military strategy.