In brief
Zhang Shengmin has been named the second highest-ranking general in China's military amidst a significant purge involving the expulsion of nine generals suspected of serious financial crimes. This reshuffling highlights the ongoing anti-corruption campaign and the potential for political ramifications within the military. The Central Military Commission also discussed future strategic priorities during a recent meeting.
The Chinese Communist Party has named a veteran who has overseen anti-corruption efforts in the military to be the country's second highest ranking general, just days after nine generals were expelled in a major purge. The appointment of Zhang Shengmin as second-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission was announced at the end of a four-day Central Committee meeting. Zhang becomes the third highest official in the country's top military body, after the first-ranked vice chairman and President Xi Jinping. The nine expelled generals were suspected of serious financial crimes, China's defense ministry said last week. However, analysts said it could also be seen as a political purge. Their removal marked one of the Chinese Communist Party's largest public crackdowns on the military in decades. For months, the Central Military Commission has signaled that it would conduct a crackdown. In July, it issued new guidelines calling for the elimination of 'toxic influence' in the military and listing out 'iron rules' for cadres. The crackdown follows smaller-scale public purges of other military officials in recent years, including former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu. Following his promotion, Zhang, 67, will serve with another more senior vice chair, Zhang Youxia, on the Central Military Commission. He is a general from the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and has been serving as deputy secretary of the Central Military Commission's anti-corruption arm. He comes from the central province of Shaanxi and joined the army in 1978. During the four-day meeting that ended Thursday, the party's Central Committee also approved a new five-year plan – a broad document to guide its priorities. The plan emphasized 'scientific and technological self-reliance', something Chinese tech companies will need if the Trump Administration continues to restrict access to computer chips and advanced software. The document also called for 'accelerating the green transition' and 'modernizing defense' as well as boosting domestic consumption to make up for lost export revenue, during a time of geopolitical uncertainty.
