China has revealed two new leaders of its People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force in a surprise shake-up that raised questions about the inner workings at the top of the military branch overseeing the nation’s powerful arsenal of nuclear, ballistic missiles.
On Monday, state media named Wang Houbin as commander of the Rocket Force and Xu Xisheng as the political commissar of the force in a report highlighting their promotion to the rank of general by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The last time Li and Xu Zhongbo were mentioned as Rocket Force leaders was in an April 6 statement from the local government in Suzhou city, where they attended a wreath-laying commemoration ceremony, according to a CNN search. “Especially at a time when China is trying to build up its nuclear arsenal to deter potential US intervention in a Taiwan contingency, the personnel reshuffle and the underlying causes of it raise skepticism about the force’s ability to carry out that mission reliably and successfully,” she said.Xi, China’s most assertive leader in a generation, has overseen an extensive expansion of the military and consolidated his control over its ranks since he came to power in 2012.
The changes in military leadership also come amid a shake-up in China’s diplomatic leadership after Qin, who was appointed foreign minister at the end of last year, was suddenly ousted after a month-long absence from public view and replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi. The newly appointed Rocket Force leadership both previously held deputy positions in other parts of the military.
Roderick Lee, director of research, USAF Air University China Aerospace Studies Institute in the US, said “the most unusual part of the announcement itself was probably the selection of a previously PLA Navy officer to become the Rocket Force Commander. This is extremely odd, but not entirely unheard of.”New missile silos
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China complains to US about 'dangerous' weapons aid to Taiwan'The Taiwan issue concerns China's core interests and is a red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations,' says Tan Kefei, a spokesperson for China's defense ministry.
Read more »
Four Australian army aircrew dead after helicopter crash during joint wargames with USFour Australian army aircrew members who were aboard a helicopter that crashed into the sea on Friday have now been declared dead, according to Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles.
Read more »
China’s July factory activity swings back to contraction – Caixin PMIChina’s factory activity swung to contraction in July, a private sector survey showed on Tuesday, with supply, demand and export orders all deteriorating as firms blamed sluggish market conditions at home and abroad. | Reuters
Read more »
Hong Kong removes requirement to flag China risk in listing applicationsHong Kong’s stock exchange will no longer require companies to spell out China-related business risks in listing applications from Tuesday, in a move that aligns the city more closely with disclosure changes ordered by Beijing. | Reuters
Read more »
Ex-President Duterte fit to be special envoy to China – CayetanoThe Marcos administration should appoint former President Rodrigo Duterte as special envoy to China, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said in an ambush interview on Monday. | charieabarcaINQ
Read more »