China

Xi Replaces Leaders of China's Elite Nuclear Force

AUG 1 2023·Updated AUG 3 2023

Story

Image credit: US Department of State [via Flickr]

The Facts

PRC Pres. Xi Jinping on Monday elevated two senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) officers from the rank of lieutenant general to general, the highest rank in the military — appointing them to head the PLA Rocket Force.
China Daily
Former deputy navy chief Wang Houbin and party central committee member Xu Xinsheng were respectively named replacements for Gen. Li Yuchao who headed the unit, and his deputy Gen. Liu Guangbin, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.
BBC News
This is the first time in 40 years that the top role of the PLA Rocket Force went to someone from outside the unit, suggesting concerns over the upper tier of the branch managing the country's nuclear arsenal.
Bloomberg.com
It was reported last week that former commanders Li and Liu are currently under an anti-corruption investigation.
South China Morning Post
This shake-up — the largest disruption to the PLA in years — is reminiscent of the 2014 removal of former deputy chairs of the Central Military Commission, Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, who were removed and put on trial for corruption.
Sky News
The PLA Rocket Force has grown in recent years despite an overall downsizing of China's military — reflecting Beijing's strategy of using long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles to enhance its capabilities of nuclear deterrence and counterattack.
The Wall Street Journal

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Pro-China narrative

This major reshuffle was necessary because many formerly reputable senior generals have degenerated into corrupt officials after moving to Beijing and engaging with defense-related companies. Entering its second decade, Xi's far-reaching anti-corruption campaign has kept rolling and he remains fully committed to tackling this issue at all levels.

South China Morning Post

Anti-China narrative

China’s government often uses corruption as an excuse for purging those it deems to be not loyal enough to the Community Party. Once Foreign Minister Qin Gang disappeared, it was only a matter of time before this type of military shake-up would happen.

Spectator (UK)