China picks new PLA head for India border
China has promoted a senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer in-charge of the Xinjiang military region as a general and head of the Western Theatre Command (WTC), which oversees the disputed Sinoindia border and is the largest theatre command in the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted five officers to the rank of general in Beijing. “Xi Jinping, chairman of the CMC on Monday presented five military officers of the Chinese PLA with certificates of order promoting them to the military rank of general, the highest rank for officers in active service in China,” a military statement said. “The promoted officers are Commander of the PLA WTC Wang Haijiang, Commander of the PLA Central Theatre Command Lin Xiangyang, Commander of the PLA Navy Dong Jun and Commander of the PLA Air Force Chang Dingqiu and President of PLA National Defence University Xu Xueqiang,” it said.
BEIJING : China has promoted a senior People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officer in-charge of the Xinjiang military region as a general and head of the Western Theatre Command, which oversees the disputed Sino-india border and is the largest theatre command in the country.
President Xi Jinping who is also the chairperson of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) promoted five officers to the rank of general at a function in Beijing.
“Xi Jinping, chairman of the CMC on Monday presented five military officers of the Chinese PLA with certificates of order promoting them to the military rank of general, the highest rank for officers in active service in China,” the military said in an official statement.
“The promoted officers are Commander of the PLA WTC Wang Haijiang, Commander of the PLA Central Theatre Command Lin Xiangyang, Commander of the PLA Navy Dong Jun and Commander of the PLA Air Force Chang Dingqiu and President of PLA National Defence University Xu Xueqiang,” the statement said.
General Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the CMC, announced the orders of promotion signed by Xi, and General Zhang Youxia, also CMC vice chairman, presided over the ceremony. The status of General Xu Qiling, who was promoted as WTC chief in July, wasn’t immediately clear.
For newly promoted general Wang Haijiang, the rise through the ranks has been rapid. He visited India in 2016, heading the PLA contingent for the Hand-inhand anti-terrorism exercise.
From all accounts in Chinese official media, he is now likely the fourth head of the sensitive WTC since last year when the ongoing round of India-china border tension began.