President Jiang Zemin has encountered opposition in his effort to unite the PLA under the so-called Jiang Theory.
Sources close to the People's Liberation Army said yesterday his opponents had snubbed the President by hoisting the banner of the military teachings of Deng Xiaoping, Mr Jiang's predecessor as chairman of the Central Military Commission.
The sources said that since Deng's death in February, Mr Jiang had paid numerous visits to the PLA units to impose his own line.
The President had also asked central and regional PLA departments to hold special sessions to avow their allegiance to 'the party leadership with Jiang Zemin as its core'.
The sources said officers in central PLA departments and regional commands had largely gone through the motions of saluting Mr Jiang's predominance.
However, on both public and private occasions, senior officers, including General Liu Huaqing, had refused to acknowledge Mr Jiang's status.
While touring military facilities in Sichuan last week, General Liu said Deng's theory on socialism was 'a flag for the party, Army and the people'.