New | Xi Jinping promotes 10 Chinese military officials to full general in show of 'carrot and stick' approach
Xi's move aimed at warning cadres to stay clean and to reward those loyal to him, analysts say
China's President Xi Jinping, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, on Friday promoted 10 senior military officials to full general.
Experts said Xi was using the "carrot and stick" approach to warn all senior military officials to stay clean and loyal to the party. The promotions were to reward Xi's loyal leaders as well as to send a message to grass-roots officers that he was determined to turn the army into a modern force.
All but one of the 10 generals promoted are younger than Xi, who is 63. This meant they had good chances for further promotion. The rising stars pundits are closely watching include the navy's political commissar Miao Hua, 60; Jinan Military Command chief Zhao Zongqi, 60; and Beijing Military Command chief Song Puxuan, 60.
The oldest of the 10 is General Zhang Shibo, 63, incumbent president of the National Defence University.
The CMC yesterday also revealed that two major generals were being punished. The PLA Daily reported that Zhang Daixin, deputy commander of the Heilongjiang provincial military area, had received a 10-year jail term for graft, and Wang Xin, former political commissar of the armed police's traffic command, was being investigated for "serious disciplinary violations".