In a notable shift within China’s military leadership, General Zhang Shengmin has been appointed as the second highest-ranking vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. This significant promotion follows a recent purge that saw nine generals expelled from the military, reportedly due to serious financial misconduct, though analysts suggest political motivations may also be at play. Zhang, who has been instrumental in leading anti-corruption efforts within the People’s Liberation Army, is considered a loyalist of President Xi Jinping.
His elevation places him as the third most senior official in the country’s paramount military body, directly below the first-ranked vice chairman and President Xi Jinping himself. The Central Military Commission has been signaling a period of intensified discipline and reform, with new guidelines issued in July aiming to eradicate “toxic influence” and establish strict rules for military cadres. This latest development marks one of the most substantial public crackdowns on the military in recent Chinese history, continuing a trend seen with the removal of former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu in prior years.
General Zhang, 67, hails from Shaanxi province and entered the army in 1978. His background in the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force and his recent role as deputy secretary of the Central Military Commission’s anti-corruption body underscore his suitability for this high-stakes position. The appointment is part of a broader political landscape that also includes the approval of a new five-year plan emphasizing “scientific and technological self-reliance,” crucial for navigating international trade tensions, and a commitment to “accelerating the green transition” and “modernising defence.”
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