Wei Fenghe is first PLA general promoted under Xi Jinping
Elevation of Wei Fenghe, commander of missile force, marks leader's start as head of military
Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe , who commands the People's Liberation Army's strategic missile force, was promoted to full general yesterday - the first officer formally elevated to the highest rank by Xi Jinping in his new capacity as the military chief.
Wei, the 58-year-old commander of the Second Artillery Corps, received a certificate of command from Xi, chairman of the Communist Party's Central Military Commission, at a ceremony attended by other commission members in Beijing yesterday, Xinhua reported.
Xi took over from Hu Jintao as the PLA's commander-in-chief last Thursday and Wei was named a member of CMC, the PLA's ultimate decision-making body.
Analysts say Wei's promotion effectively marked the start of Xi's time as head of the PLA. Promoting senior military officers is one of the two most effective ways for a civilian party leader to consolidate his control over the world's biggest fighting force. The other is increasing military spending to improve soldiers' welfare.
Taiwan's former deputy defence minister Lin Chong-pin said Xi boasted exceptional political strength, which might help him set his stamp on the military earlier than most.
"The coming of Xi's era is far earlier than expected by most of the outside world," Lin said. "The authorisation of Wei's promotion signifies the kicking off of his time in charge of the military, although the process is going as expected."
