Advertisement

China’s rising military stars take centre-stage as annual promotions pass over old guard

Latest additions to senior ranks announced as President Xi Jinping looks for new breed of generals to suit plans to modernise People’s Liberation Army

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Chang Dingqiu was regarded as one of the PLA Air Force’s top pilots. Photo: Xinhua

China’s annual round of military promotions has skipped a generation to focus on the military’s rising stars instead.

Advertisement

In a break with tradition, no full generals were promoted this year on August 1, the anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army, but in July some 15 officers were elevated to the rank of lieutenant general.

The youngest of these was Chang Dingqiu, 51, who led the 2015 fighter jet flights over Tiananmen Square to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of the second world war.
The PLA’s rising stars
The PLA’s rising stars

Last weekend, Chang was pictured on state television in his new lieutenant general’s uniform attending a key military congress, which took place after the top Communist Party leaders’ summer gathering at Beidaihe.

Advertisement

At the military meeting, President Xi Jinping, in his capacity as chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), urged his senior generals to work to develop younger officers and give them tough, frontline assignments.

Advertisement