Chinese president Xi Jinping has, according to official Chinese media, appointed Gen Wang Haijiang as the new commander of the Western Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army, which oversees the border with India.
According to the state-run website chinamil, Xi, who also heads the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the governing Communist Party of China (CPC), Wang, and four other military commanders have been elevated to the rank of General, the highest position for officers in active military duty in China.
The Central Military Commission (CMC) is the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) ultimate senior command (PLA). After the eastern Ladakh stalemate began in May of last year, Gen Wang became the fourth commander to lead the Western Theatre Command. The tensions have lessened to some level, with forces from both sides withdrawing from the Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso, and Gogra, but the disengagement from other flashpoints in eastern Ladakh, such as Hot Springs and Depsang, has not been completed.
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China’s Western Theatre Command is in charge of the Xinjiang and Tibet Autonomous Regions and the Indian border, making it the PLA’s biggest geographical command. According to the web article, Xi, 68, awarded them with certificates of order, upgrading them to the military rank of General.
Gen Xu Qiling was elevated to lead the PLA’s Western Theatre Command by Xi in July. After the Ladakh tensions erupted in May of last year, Gen Xu, 59, became the third General to lead the Western Command. Gen Zhang Xudong was assigned to lead the command on December 19 last year, succeeding Gen Zhao Zongqi, who resigned from the PLA at 65.
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Gen. Wang, 58, has led the Western Theatre Command since December 2019. He previously served as the chief of the Tibet military district. He also held the role of Deputy Commander of the South Xinjiang Military District, which is in charge of the Ladakh area.
