The Chinese language chief changed the 2 most-senior leaders within the Folks’s Liberation Military’s Rocket Pressure, a state media report confirmed, bringing in new blood from China’s air power and navy — a extremely uncommon step that means a need for a sweeping change within the unit’s higher echelons.
Wang Houbin, beforehand deputy commander of the navy, is now commander of the rocket power with the rank of common, in accordance with an official Xinhua Information Company report on Monday. Xu Xisheng is now the rocket power’s political commissar, the report stated. He beforehand served within the air power’s Southern Theater Command. MIT professional M Taylor Fravel famous it was the primary time in 40 years that the highest function went to somebody from exterior the rocket unit: “The appointment of an outsider typically happens when there’s critical considerations concerning the division’s administration.”
Till just lately, Li Yuchao was commander of the rocket power. He’s now reportedly beneath investigation for disciplinary violations, together with two of his deputies. The 60-year-old had solely been within the job for 16 months. If confirmed, the probes would deal a blow to Xi’s signature marketing campaign to wash up the PLA, an effort which has spanned almost his whole tenure.
The abrupt modifications come as Xi faces different senior personnel points: final week, his handpicked overseas minister, Qin Gang, was faraway from that submit. The rocket unit performed a key function in Beijing’s live-fire army drills round Taiwan final August, after then-US Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-ruled island that China claims as its territory. China had fired 11 ballistic missiles.
