Aug. 8 2023 17:13 – Updated 8 Aug. 2023 17:13
Since Xi Jinping came to power in China in 2012, he has reshaped the Chinese army. One of his major projects has been to build up the “Missile Force”, the body that manages China’s growing nuclear and ballistic missiles
The force has been an expression of Xi’s ambitions to make China a respected and feared great power, writes The New York Times.
Last week, however, Xi made some surprising shakeups in the top staff of this rocket force. Many now suspect espionage, corruption or disloyalty in the highest ranks of Xi’s regime.
Speculations
On Monday last week, Chinese state media announced that Wang Houbin has been appointed chief of the missile force and Xu Xisheng as political commissar.
These do not have leadership experience from the military branch that controls nuclear weapons, Wang comes from the navy and Xu from the air force, writes CNN.
This is happening at the same time that the Chinese foreign minister was suddenly removed from his post without explanation, after he mysteriously “disappeared” from the public eye for over a month.
It is unclear what caused two of the commanders of the missile force to be replaced.
However, this has set in motion a number of speculations, including rumors that one or both of them have been recruited as spies. There are also suspicions of corruption or disloyalty to Jinping.
Whatever the reason, however, this suggests that Jinping is eager to strengthen his own dominance over this body, they argue The New York Times. They further write that this reshuffle is the biggest upheaval in China’s military in over five years.
(The article continues below the picture).
Chinese President Xi Jinping speaks during the presentation of the members of the Communist Party’s new Politburo Standing Committee, the country’s top decision-making body, Some experts believe that the reshuffle at the top of the missile force is likely part of Xi’s attempt to secure loyal supporters. Read more Close
“Extremely Strange”
David C. Logan, assistant professor at Tufts University and an expert on China’s missile and nuclear weapons modernization, says The New York Times that these replacements could slow or make it difficult for China to upgrade its conventional and nuclear missiles.
– I can imagine that this could interfere with modernisation, says Logan
– Instability at a high level is never good when implementing major changes, and the changes taking place in the missile weapon are significant. In addition, it now appears that the top management has little relevant experience with the missile forces.
Roderick Lee, head of research at a think tank with a focus on Chinese air defenses, says CNN that “the most unusual thing about the announcement itself was probably the choice of a former naval officer as commander of the missile force. This is extremely strange, but not completely unheard of.”
2023-08-08 15:13:32
#Jinping #replaces #leaders #nuclear #missiles
