His absence raises questions about Xi Jinping’s judgment
used to say that political power grows from the barrel of a gun. In other words, controlling the armed forces is key to any leader’s success. Xi Jinping, China’s current supremo , appears to believe the same, having built his authority to a large extent on his sweeping overhaul of the People’s Liberation Army in the past decade.
A less high-profile but equally unusual personnel change came to light on September 1st with the dismissal of Major General Cheng Dongfang as president of themilitary court after just eight months in that post. No reason was given.
Mr Xi’s new choices to lead the Rocket Force also suggest that he is trying to break up the kind of patronage networks within the service that have often led to corruption in the past. The force’s new commander, General Wang Houbin, is a career naval officer. Its new political commissar, General Xu Xisheng, comes from the air force.
From 2017 to 2022 he headed the Central Military Commission’s Equipment Development Department. America imposed sanctions on him in 2018 for his role in China’s purchase of Russian combat aircraft and missile equipment. In July this year, the department announced a fresh crackdown on corruption, calling for tips about abuses dating back to 2017.