Xi’s New Central Military Commission: A War Council for Taiwan?

By Joel Wuthnow Thursday, December 1, 2022

https://www.prcleader.org/wuthnow-december-2022

Review:

The new MAC is more of a broad-based advisory body than a coherent joint task force focused on an objective (or several). There is no longer any air force representation, and the only admiral runs the political workshop (and spent the vast majority of his career in the army), and the replacement for rocketman Wei Fenghe is in charge of discipline. The officers serving on the previous MAC spent 10% of their collective careers on joint operations; this version has half as much experience playing well with others.

There is one new vice chair (ex-Eastern Theatre Commander He Weidong, 65 yrs old) to accompany hold-over Zhang Youxia (72). Zhang and Xi Jinping have been very close for a very long time (their fathers were civil war buddies). General He replaces General Xu Qiliang, who is four months older than Zhang Youxia.

Incoming Joint Staff Dept Director (Chief of Staff) Liu Zhenli (58) is the first senior officer born in the 1960s, and on a very rapidly rising trajectory. Like Zhang Youxia, General Liu served in the Sino-Viet conflict, but he has never worked in a joint operations role.

Continuity in politics with General Political Dept Director Miao Hua and PLA Disciplinary Inspection Commission Secretary Zhang Shengmin retaining their loyalty-oriented roles. Equipment manager Li Shangfu, the final member of the MAC (and the first with space expertise), is expected to be named Defense Minister in the spring.

The old 31st Group Army (now 73rd) was based in Fujian when Xi Jinping was governor (1999-2002), and both He Weidong and Miao Hua were among its leadership.

Central Committeemen in uniform:

Zhang Youxia (b. 7/50), Politburo, General, MAC Vice Chair (3/18-)

He Weidong (b. 5/57), Politburo, General, MAC Vice Chair (10/22-)

Zhang Shengmin (b. 2/58), MAC Member, CC Discipline Inspection Commission Deputy Secretary, PLA DIC Secretary (1/17-)

Miao Hua (b. 11/55), Admiral, MAC Member, PLA General Political Dept Dir (10/17-)

Liu Zhenli (b. 8/64), General, MAC Member, PLA Ground Force Commander (6/21-)

Zhong Shaojun (b. 10/68), Lt. Gen, MAC General Office Dir (8/17-), MAC Chair Office Dir (6/13-)

He Hongjun (b. 8/61), Lt. General, PLA General Political Dept Deputy Director (4/19-)

Wang Renhua (b. 1962), Vice Admiral, MAC Political & Legal Affairs Comm Sec’y (12/19-)

Zhang Lin (b. 1965), Lt. General, MAC Joint Logistics Support Dept Dir (1/22-)

Wang Wenquan (b. 12/62), Lt. General, MAC Joint Logistics Support Dept PC (9/20-)

Zhao Xiaozhe (b. 7/63), Vice Admiral, MAC Science & Technology Cmte Dir (6/18-)

Li Shangfu (b. 2/58), Lt. General, MAC Member, PLA Equipment Development Dir (9/17-)

Liu Faqing (b. 6/64), Lt. General, National Defense Mobilization Comm Sec’y-Gen (12/21-)

Wang Peng (b. 2/64), Lt. General, PLA Training & Administration Dept Dir (12/21-)

Xu Xueqiang (b. 11/62), General, PLA National Defense Univ Pres (8/21-)

Yang Xuejun (b. 4/63), PLA Academy of Military Science Pres (7/17-)

Qin Shutong (b. 11/63), General, PLA Ground Forces Political Commissar (1/22-)

Huang Ming (b. 4/63), Lt General, PLA Ground Forces Chief-of-Staff (9/21-)

Chang Dingqiu (b. 1/67), General, PLA Air Force Commander (9/21-)

Guo Puxiao (b. 1/64), General, PLAAF PC (1/22-)

Yu Qingjiang (b. 9/63), Lt. General, PLAAF Chief-of-Staff (12/17-)

Dong Jun (b. 1963), Admiral, PLA Navy Commander (9/21-)

Hu Zhongming (b. 1/64), Vice Admiral, PLAN Chief-of-Staff (12/21-)

Li Yuchao (b. 11/62), General, PLA Rocket Force Commander (1/22-)

Xu Zhongbo (b. 10/60), General, PLA Rocket Force PC (7/20-)

Ju Qiansheng (b. 5/62), General, PLA Strategic Support Force Commander (6/21-)

Li Wei (b. 9/60), General, PLA Strategic Support Force PC (12/20-)

Lin Xiangyang (b. 10/64), General, Eastern Theater Command Commander (1/22-)

[Eastern Political Commissar General He Ping (65) is not a member of the Central Committee]

Wu Yanan (b. 8/62), General, Central Theater Commander (1/22-)

Xu Deqing (b. 7/63), General, Central Theater PC (1/22-)

Wang Qiang (b. 1963), PLAAF General, Northern Theater Cmdr (9/22-)

Liu Qingsong (b. 11/63), Admiral, Northern Theater PC (1/22-)

Wang Xiubin (b. 3/64), General, Southern Theater Commander (6/21-)

[Southern Political Commissar General Wang Jianwu (64) is not a member of the Central Committee]

Xu Xisheng (b. 4/64), Lt. General Southern Theater Deputy PC (7/17-)

Yang Zhiliang (b. 11/62), Vice Admiral, South China Sea Fleet PC (12/19-)

Wang Haijiang (b. 7/63), General, Western Theater Commander (8/21-)

Li Fengbiao (b. 10/59), General, Western Theater PC (6/21-)

Wang Kai (b. 4/63), Lt. General, Tibet Military District Commander (3/21-)

Yang Cheng (b. 12/64), Lt. General, Xinjiang MD PC (12/20-)

Wang Chunning (b. 3/63), General, People’s Armed Police Commander (12/20-)

Zhang Hongbing (b. 1/66), General, PAP PC (1/22-)

Xu Qiling (b. 7/62), General, ex-MAC Vice Chair (8/21-)

Li Qiaoming (b. 4/61), General, ex-Northern Theater Commander (9/17-9/22)