Xi Promotes Two Generals As He Tightens Grip Over PLA After Purging Top Brass
Xi Promotes Two Generals As He Tightens Grip Over PLA After Purging Top Brass Curated By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 18:44 IST Chinese President
Xi Promotes Two Generals As He Tightens Grip Over PLA After Purging Top Brass Curated By, Last Updated: July 04, 2026, 18:44 IST Chinese President Xi Jinping two officers to the rank of general, signaling a possible military leadership reshuffle after anti-corruption investigations. Rapid Read Chinese President Xi Jinping two officers to the rank of general. China has two senior military officers to the rank of general in a move that could pave the way for a broader reshuffle of the country’s top military leadership after years of anti-corruption investigations removed several senior commanders. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), presented promotion orders to Zhang Shuguang and Air Force commander Wang Gang during a ceremony held on Friday.
Alongside his promotion, Zhang was appointed to head the anti-corruption investigation division of the Central Military Commission, the body that oversees China’s armed forces. His new role places him at the centre of the military’s ongoing campaign against corruption. According to The Associated Press (AP), the promotions are being viewed as a possible precursor to a broader reorganisation of China’s military leadership after anti-corruption investigations significantly thinned the ranks of the Central Military Commission. The changes could also position Zhang and Wang to fill vacancies on the seven-member Central Military Commission, China’s highest military decision-making body. The commission has been significantly reduced in strength after several senior members were removed or sidelined during the anti-corruption drive.
At present, Xi Jinping remains the commission’s chairman, while Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin is its only other active member. Two former vice chairmen, including the military’s highest-ranking general, have either been removed or are no longer effectively serving following the ongoing investigations. The latest promotions suggest preparations may already be underway for the next leadership transition within the military. A new Central Military Commission is expected to be announced in the autumn of next year, when the current five-year term ends. The appointments underscore Beijing’s continued efforts to tighten control over the armed forces while rebuilding the military’s top leadership after one of its most extensive anti-corruption campaigns in recent years.
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