The shake-up is believed to be part of an effort to reform the military and ensure its loyalty to China’s ruling Communist Party and the nation’s leader, Xi Jinping. It comes as Xi seeks to accelerate the modernization of the armed forces to stake out and defend China’s interests in the Pacific, including Taiwan and other territorial claims.
Xi, who is also head of the military, presented orders promoting Zhang Shuguang and air force commander Wang Gang to generals at a ceremony Friday. Zhang was also named the head of the division investigating corruption at the Central Military Commission, the military’s top body.