Jiang Zemin promotes 15 generals and enhances his power
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) Central Military Commission chairman and former president Jiang Zemin has promoted 15 senior officers to the rank of full general. It brings to 79 the number of generals he has hand-picked since 1993. This is a move seen by some analysts as an indication the former Communist party chief would not step down, after handing the top job in the Communist Party to Hu Jintao in 2002 and the state presidency in 2003. According to Andrew Yang, a Taiwanese expert on the People's Liberation Army, "it's a sign Jiang will not leave this year."
Among the new generals - mostly aged over 60 were Lieutenant-General You Xigui, 65, Mr Jiang's chief bodyguard and director of the Central Guard Bureau since 1999; Liu Zhenwu, 60, who was the first People's Liberation Army (PLA) commander-in-chief in Hong Kong after the handover. Senior military officers have to retire in their 60s, with the exception of generals. "A lieutenant-general would have to retire if he's over 60 and not promoted to full general," a Chinese military analyst said.
According to several analysts, allowing You to remain chief bodyguard indicated Jiang wanted to stay on as he would prefer a chief bodyguard he could trust. The Bodyguards Bureau provides the country's top leaders with security personnel. In 1976, then chief bodyguard Wang Dongxing plotted and ordered the arrest of Mao Zedong's widow, Jiang Qing, and other members of her reviled Gang of Four.
Xinhua state-run news agency listed the names of all the newly promoted generals; in a cerimomy broadcast on China Central Television Mr Jiang handed out certificates of command to the new generals. President Hu Jintao, who is also the commission's vice-chairman, took part in the ceremony. (ThR)
.png)
