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.
Rocket Force is the key element of the country’s nuclear deterrence strategy and Beijing’s efforts to ramp up military pressure on Taiwan.
In recent years the PLA has been working to improve its air, land and sea-based nuclear systems – the so-called nuclear triad – as part of a drive to ensure all combat wings can operate together.
Wang Houbin, the navy’s former deputy commander, will now 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.
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.
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