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Chinese military’s security chief Wang Renhua elevated to top rank of general
- Promotion could give Wang and the CMC Political and Legal Affairs Commission, which he heads, more power, observer says
- President Xi Jinping presented him with a certificate of order at a ceremony in Beijing on Thursday, according to state television
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Vanessa Caiin Shanghai
President Xi Jinping has promoted the PLA’s security chief to the rank of general, a departure from recent practice that comes amid a purge of military leaders.
Wang Renhua, head of the Central Military Commission’s Political and Legal Affairs Commission, was elevated to the highest rank for officers in active service on Thursday.
Wang, 62, is the third security chief of the People’s Liberation Army since a major overhaul of the military in 2015. He took up the job in late 2019 and was promoted to lieutenant general.
He becomes the first general to serve in this position since the overhaul – his predecessor Song Dan was a lieutenant general when he was security chief, as was Li Xiaofeng before him.
It comes as the ruling Communist Party is ramping up a campaign targeting corruption in the military. In December, nine PLA generals – including a number of senior members of the PLA Rocket Force responsible for China’s nuclear arsenal – were dismissed from the top legislature.
Meanwhile, Li Shangfu – who has not been seen in public since August – was sacked as defence minister and state councillor in October, without explanation. Li was also removed from the CMC last month.
Others include aerospace company chairman Feng Jiehong, who resigned from the legislature in February. Li Zhizhong, a lieutenant general who was deputy commander of the PLA’s Central Theatre Command, was also dismissed from the legislature.
01:54
China sacks defence minister Li Shangfu with no explanation after nearly two-month absence
China sacks defence minister Li Shangfu with no explanation after nearly two-month absence
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