The Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China 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 Central Military Commission (CMC).

Its official responsibilities are to exercise unified administration over the development of the armed forces of the country such as the recruitment, organization, equipment, training and scientific military research of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and its 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 CMC.