General Chang Wanquan tipped for top military post
As a PLA heavyweight who oversees the successful space programme, General Chang Wanquan appears to have the cards stacked in his favour
Aided by age, party tradition, strong connections and the right mix of work experience, General Chang Wanquan is widely considered a front runner to get a top military post at the Communist Party's congress.
The CMC, like most top party bodies, is expected to see major staff turnover during the once-in-a-decade reshuffle next month, with seven or eight of its 10 active military members likely to retire.
At 63, Chang is the CMC's second-youngest member, meaning he would probably serve at least one five-year term.
As director of the People's Liberation Army's General Armaments Department overseeing missile development, the Henan native can claim responsibility for several key achievements, including the successful Shenzhou-IX spacecraft docking in June.
Past practice also favours Chang's promotion. He is the most senior leadership candidate from the military's ground forces, which have traditionally held sway on the commission.
Appointees to the two professional vice-chairmanships have usually been selected from within the CMC.