China replaces missing head of nuclear forces in major military reshuffle

Two new military leaders appointed Photo: AFP

China replaces absent head of nuclear missile forces as President Xi Jinping for the first time in carried out a major military reshuffle for many years.

‌Wang Houbin replaced General Li Yuchao as commander of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Missile Force, state media reported on Monday, a day before the founding anniversary of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). ).

‌Mr. Wang has been Deputy Commander of the Navy since 2020, and previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff.

‌Meanwhile, Xu Xisheng, an Air Force officer and a member of the Central Committee of the Party, was appointed political force commissar to replace General Liu Guangbin.

Mr. Youchao and Mr. Guangbin have been missing for several months amid the which intelligence sources say is part of an investigation into an alleged leak of military secrets.

‌It comes during a campaign against military corruption and Beijing's push to ensure the PLA's full loyalty to the party and to Mr Xi himself.

‌Missile Force surveillance is an important role with far-reaching responsibilities, as they are responsible for ground-based nuclear deterrents and conventional ballistic missiles .

‌The overhaul is the first sudden shake-up of its kind since Xu Caihou and Guo Xiong, former vice chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC), were removed from their posts and subsequently prosecuted on charges of corruption in 2014.

< p>The changes were part of Beijing's attempt to reassert its control of the military.

‌Neil Thomas, China Policy Fellow at the Asia Society think tank, called the latest changes «very unusual.»

«All of this almost confirms a purge in the PLA Rocket Forces,» he said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

«Low political trust»

«New missile commander Wang Houbin of the navy, new political commissar Xu Xisheng of the air force, the appointment of two outsiders is very unusual, indicating low political credibility and hinting at the extent of corruption in the nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile programs.»

‌Mr Thomas added that these steps may be «possibly linked» to the death of former PLARF MP Wu Guohua on 4 July.

He said there was no mention of Mr. Guohua's death until July. 27, leading to speculation about his circumstances.

“Refers to illness, but there are widespread rumors of suicide due to corruption investigations. All this raises questions about the true state of China's nuclear arsenal. missile programs,” said Mr. Thomas.

‌ Mr. Xi has repeatedly urged the military to deepen military and combat planning in order to increase the chances of winning in real combat to protect China’s sovereignty and territory.

‌China also states that it will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear-weapon states or nuclear-weapon-free zones.