China’s armed police sees leadership overhaul under reform designed to tighten Communist Party control
- A restructuring of the People’s Armed Police that began two years ago may be reaching its end after a number of senior commanders were promoted last week
- The force is now under the direct control of the Central Military Commission – which is chaired by President Xi Jinping – rather than local governments
A recent shake-up of the top ranks of the armed police in China suggests that a restructuring designed to tighten the Communist Party’s control over the paramilitary force is reaching its conclusion.
Two years ago the force was placed under the direct control of the party’s Central Military Committee as part of a wider reform of the military initiated by President Xi Jinping.
The reform also moved the force beyond the control of local governments, which will no longer be able to mobilise the force to crack down on public disorder.
The size of the force was also reduced from 800,000 to 400,000, as part of the restructuring which also removed many of its civilian functions and branches such as firefighting, border inspection, and even gold prospecting. As part of the same process it also took on responsibility for the coastguard.
Last week in the third group promotion in just under a year, the People’s Armed Police Force saw one new lieutenant general and 36 major generals appointed.
The new lieutenant general is the force’s director of the political work department Gao Wei, a former army major general who moved over to the police last October.