|
Top PLA commanders may be replaced by younger officers
Tip via 3dc
Commentary by Neil Thomas, China analyst with the Wapo: Some of them: Wang Haijiang was previously commander of Xinjiang Military District, Tibet MD & deputy of South Xinjiang MD & fought in Vietnam war. Big focus on ethnic & border areas. Wang is only 58 this year & made Lieutenant General rank in 2019, so he's one to watch if he does a good job. Chang Dingqiu promoted to Commander of PLA Air Force Previously deputy chief of staff at Joint Staff Dept of Central Military Commission. Chang is 54. Chinese media say this makes him the youngest PLA General EVER. One day he could be a CMC vice chair on the Politburo. Lin Xiangyang promoted to Commander of Central Theater Command, headquartered in Beijing. Previously commander of ground forces in Eastern Theater, which oversees Taiwan missions. Lin is only 57 this year and was only promoted to Lieutenant General last year. Rising star. Xu Xueqiang promoted to President of PLA National Defense University. Previously air force commander of the Northern Theater, which oversees Korean Peninsula, Russia, Mongolia issues. Xu is 59 this year and made the last rank only two years ago so also kinda a rising star. Dong Jun promoted to Commander of PLA Navy. Previously deputy commander of PLAN and of Southern Theater Command, which oversees South China Sea. Official sources don't give his age but he was at the vice admiral rank since 2018 before making admiral, so not as fast a rise It's not yet clear if the generals these rising stars replaced have new roles. But it seems like experience with Taiwan, SCS, border areas, and CMC are good ways to get promoted. Which suggests the importance of territorial issues and political reform in CCP military thinking. Posted by: badanov 2021-09-08 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=611979 |