China Announces New Military Appointments Amidst Disappearance of Predecessors

Amid mounting speculation and concern, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has disclosed the appointment of two new executives to prominent military-industrial corporations, following the prolonged absence of their predecessors who have reportedly been under investigation since last year.

According to the state-run broadcaster CCTV, on April 12, the China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC) convened a staff management meeting where Chen Ximing was announced as the new chairman and Party head. Simultaneously, the China Ordnance Equipment Group Corporation, also known as China South Industries Group Corporation (CSGC), appointed Zhang Yujin as the new director, general manager, and deputy head of the Party.

The positions had remained vacant for over six months amidst a sweeping campaign by CCP authorities to purge senior military personnel.

Yuan Jie, the predecessor of Chen Ximing, was last seen on September 3, 2023, during a visit to various units under the Sichuan Aerospace Science and Technology Group. Similarly, Chen Guoying, the predecessor of Zhang Yujin, was last publicly seen on July 25, 2023, in a meeting with leaders of Nanyang City, Henan Province.

The CCP has refrained from disclosing any information regarding the dismissal or investigation of the two former military executives.

Speaking to The Epoch Times, U.S.-based current affairs analyst Chen Pokong highlighted that not only military-industrial enterprises but also senior figures across various branches of the CCP military have been implicated in various disciplinary breaches, including embezzlement and leaks.

The revelations come in the wake of a report by the China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) at the U.S. Air Force University, which exposed organizational structures within the Chinese Rocket Force. The report triggered internal investigations within the CCP, resulting in a protracted personnel reshuffle.

In March this year, the CCP revoked the membership of several top military-industrial executives from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). This purge included figures like Wu Yansheng and Wang Changqing of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), signaling a broader crackdown within the military-industrial complex.

Allegations surfaced on social media, with former CCP Navy Command lieutenant colonel Yao Cheng claiming that numerous generals, including Lt. Gen. Deng Zhiping and Major General He Yuehua, were under investigation.

Xi Jinping’s leadership appears to be intensifying efforts to consolidate control over the military, with speculation rife about the establishment of a military loyal only to the Party, echoing practices seen in North Korea.

However, analysts caution that unless substantial political reforms are enacted, the CCP’s struggles with disloyalty and corruption are likely to persist.