Unlike in other countries, the minister does not have command authority over the armed forces, with the post generally used for diplomatic purposes.

The minister was held by influential generals, including Peng Dehuai, Lin Biao and Ye Jianying.

[1] Among all its officeholders, Geng Biao was the only defence minister with a civil background, having no military rank of the PLA, neither was he a member thereof.

[6] Prior to this, Li was removed from the office only a couple of months after his appointment in March 2023, causing the position to be briefly vacant from October.

[8] Officially, the minister is nominated by the premier of the State Council, who is then approved by the National People's Congress or its Standing Committee and appointed by the president.