China names General Wang Houbin as new PLA Rocket Force chief after former commanders snared in corruption scandal
- An unusually sweeping shake-up will see the force responsible for the country’s nuclear arsenal get a new commander and political commissar at the same time
- The force’s former head Li Yuchao and other senior commanders have been placed under investigation, according to military sources
Beijing has appointed a new leadership for the force responsible for its nuclear arsenal after its former commanders were snared in an anti-corruption campaign.
Wang Houbin, the navy’s former deputy commander, will become the new head of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, while Xu Xisheng will move from Southern Theatre Command to become its new political commissar, state broadcaster CCTV reported.
Their appointments were announced as both Wang and Xu were promoted from the rank of lieutenant general to full general at a ceremony on Monday. Neither general has served with the force before.
There have been no public announcements about any investigation into the trio, but they are believed to have been taken away by investigators.
It is extremely rare for President Xi Jinping, the head of the CMC, to replace a fighting force’s commander and its political chief at the same time.
