China’s Central Theater Command (CTC) has appointed its third commander in one and a half years. China observers have said that the move is another effort by Xi Jinping’s to secure military cronies. But a couple of abnormalities also point to Xi’s insecurities in relation to the Chinese military.
On Jan. 18, Xi Jinping, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s ) general secretary and Central Military Commission (CMC) Chairman, conferred the rank of general to Huang Ming, the newly promoted commander of the CTC in Beijing. The 60-year-old army general Wu Yanan has stepped down as CTC commander.
