Since no new defense minister is appointed, China has experienced a significant change in its military hierarchy, which highlights the complex dynamics that determine the panorama of the country’s armed forces. On this occasion, the President of the Central Military Commission, Xi Jinping, awarded two prominent People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers the highest rank of active-duty general. The recipients of this recognition were Wang Wenquanpolitical commissar of the Southern Theater Command, and Hu ZhongmingCommander of the Navy.
It’s cautious Selection of military officers for rapid promotion to key positions at this facilityas a sign of the desire of both Xi wants to consolidate military supportand its growing concern about new security challenges in the region and beyond.
The promotions come as China resumed high-level military communications with the United States last week, more than a year after Beijing cut lines of communication following an unannounced trip to Taiwan by the then-President of the U.S. House of Representatives. Nancy Pelosi.
So via video conference the general of the People’s Liberation Army Liu Zhenli met with the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, CQ Brown Jr.to address various global and regional security issues.
On the other hand, the recent appointments assume greater significance as part of the political purges that Xi has carried out in recent years. The main goal of these sightings was to consolidate the Chinese leader’s control and loyalty over the high political and military power in the country, with the aim of eliminating any potential threat to his leadership and strengthening his control.
These measures have caused concern and speculation both domestically and internationally as they are seen as a strategy to ensure their influence in important decisions.
The political context in which the latest designations are embedded is not unrelated to the growing tensions in the South China Sea. The region has been the scene of territorial disputes between China and several neighboring areas, such as: Vietnam, Philippines and Taiwan. The militarization of some islands and the construction of military installations by the The Asian giant has exacerbated these tensionswhich is causing concern in the international community.
In addition, in the wake of recent clashes at sea, the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yiexplained to his Philippine counterpart a week ago, Enrique Manalothat relations between the two countries were experiencing “serious difficulties”.
The final focus of the The tense dispute centered on the Second Thomas Shoal Atollwhere ships from both nations have faced with Philippine attempts to resupply a ship that ran aground there in 1999.
Incidents that led U.S. and Philippine officials to reaffirm a treaty forces Washington to defend Manila in the event of an armed attack.
Xi’s purges
The all-powerful Xi has shaken up China’s military and foreign policy establishment in recent months, abruptly replacing several senior military officers and the country’s foreign minister. The firings were most surprising given that Xi had promoted many of these officials to head his organizations less than a year earlier.
The scandal surrounding the disappearance of ministers began in July, when then-Chancellor Qingang He was absent for weeks and was hastily removed from office for no apparent reason. According to reports published a few months ago, He was fired after fathering a child in the United States. in a long-rumored extramarital affair with a journalist while he was ambassador to Washington, which could have endangered China’s national security.
In addition, new purges were reported in August, with two of them fired Senior officials of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force – which oversees the country’s nuclear and land-based missile arsenals – in an apparent attempt to install more loyal officials and end corruption within that body.
Still, concerns about the Xi government grew due to the mysterious absence of the defense minister. Li Shangfu. He was apparently last seen in public on August 29 and could be under investigation along with eight other senior officials alleged corruption during his term in office at the head of the military material procurement unit.
It should be noted that the defense position is a nominal position in the country’s government structure, specifically responsible for military diplomacy. Meet with foreign army officers and represent China abroad.
The disappearance of Qin and Li have fanned fire in some circles Concerns that a crisis could erupt more easily, especially as China’s intense military activity near Taiwan continues and the Asian power’s weakened economy faces headwinds.