‘Reticent’ general Wei Fenghe could be China’s new defence minister, sources say
Former strategic missile force chief handed Xi Jinping the plan to break apart his own unit – even though it wasn’t in his interests, insider says
A “reticent” general who was instrumental in the break-up of the strategic missile force he headed – even though it was not in his interests – is expected to become China’s new defence minister, sources said.
General Wei Fenghe was named as one of the members of the Communist Party’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC) on October 25.
Wei, the last commander of the Second Artillery Corps – before it became the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force – is known as a strategist whose political nous and philosophy of “doing more but saying less” has helped him to climb the career ladder faster than others, according to military insiders.
“Wei was the first PLA department head to not only promise to support President Xi Jinping’s unprecedented military overhaul from the very beginning, but also to proactively meet Xi, who is also the CMC chairman,” a military insider who is close to Wei’s family said.
Wei is the only member of the commission without a portfolio – Li Zuocheng has already been named as head of joint staff, while Miao Hua has been given the top role for political work and Zhang Shengmin is responsible for the military’s discipline commission. In addition, the defence minister is usually a member of the CMC.
