China’s military promotes 2 new generals after anti-corruption purge thins ranks

BEIJING (AP) — China’s military promoted two officers to the rank of general in what may be a precursor to a reorganization at the top following the removal of several of its leaders in a long-running anti-corruption drive.

The shake-up is believed to be part of an effort to reform the military and ensure its loyalty to China’s ruling Communist Party and the nation’s leader, Xi Jinping. It comes as Xi seeks to accelerate the modernization of the armed forces to stake out and defend China’s interests in the Pacific, including Taiwan and other territorial claims.

Xi, who is also head of the military, presented orders promoting Zhang Shuguang and air force commander Wang Gang to generals at a ceremony Friday. Zhang was also named the head of the division investigating corruption at the Central Military Commission, the military’s top body.

The promotions could put them in line to fill vacancies on the seven-member commission, which has been effectively reduced to two by the corruption investigations.

Zhang in particular looks like a leading candidate, analysts said. The case for Wang is less clear, as two other air force officers — the commanders of China’s Central and Eastern Theaters — were promoted to general in the People’s Liberation Army, or PLA, in December.

“Wang Gang is part of a new generation of PLA Air Force elites with hard operational experience who have been delegated important roles in the Chinese military since the latest round of purges,” said James Char, an assistant professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore.

The commission is chaired by Xi. Its only other active member is Vice Chair Zhang Shengmin. Two former vice chairs, including the military’s top general, have been removed or effectively removed.

The purges have dismantled the two main factions in the military, giving Xi a cleaner slate to choose future leaders, Char said.

At the same time, the fact that only four lieutenant generals have been elevated to general suggests that Xi is not in a hurry to reshuffle the leadership, said K. Tristan Tang, a nonresident fellow at the U.S.-based National Bureau of Asian Research.

“He is still watching, testing, and vetting these senior PLA lieutenant generals,” Tang said.

A new Central Military Commission is expected to be announced at the next Communist Party Congress in the fall of next year, when the current commission’s five-year term ends.