Why did China suddenly change the commander of strategic nuclear forces

The new commander of the Rocket Forces (an analogue of the Russian Strategic Missile Forces) of the People’s Liberation Army of China (PLA) has been Colonel-General Wang Houbin, who previously held the post of Deputy Commander of the Naval Forces (Navy) of the PLA. Colonel-General Xu Xisheng, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CCP), became his deputy.

The corresponding decision was made on August 1 by Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was announced on China Central Television. Wang replaced General Li Yuchao and Xu replaced Liu Guangbin, who have not been seen in public for the past several months. This is the biggest unplanned reshuffle in China’s military leadership in a decade.

The day before the appointment, Wang and Xu were promoted to the ranks of colonel generals – the highest in the PLA, should from the message of the Ministry of Defense of the People’s Republic of China. Chinese President Xi Jinping presented them with the certificates.

Later, the Chinese Caixin and Beijing Youth Daily noted that the ceremony of conferring the ranks of Colonel Generals to Wang and Xu is the third one held by the Central Military Council in 2023 (it is headed by the President of the People’s Republic of China). Wang and Xu previously held the positions of Vice Commander of the PLA Navy and Deputy Political Commissar of the Command of the Southern Theater of Operations, respectively, and were not related to the strategic nuclear forces.

This is the most unusual reshuffling since 2014, and is most likely intended to emphasize the complete control of the Chinese Communist Party over the country’s armed forces.

The Hong Kong South China Morning Post (SCMP) previously reported that the removed executives could face allegations of corruption while working with defense enterprises in Beijing. In addition to them, Zhang Zhenzhong, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Council of the People’s Republic of China, could also fall under persecution. The investigation, according to the newspaper, could begin after the change of the Minister of Defense of the PRC in March 2023 – then Wei Fenghe replaced Li Shangfu.

Experts from Beijing-based military science think tank Yuan Wang commented to SCMP that Wang Houbin’s transfer from the Navy to the Rocket Forces can be called unprecedented, but on the other hand, it testifies to the PLA’s confidence in its ability to conduct various types of combat operations. Emphasis on the integration of air, land and sea-based nuclear systems can be aimed at strengthening the coordination of all combat units. In addition, the reshuffle can be a bet on the influx of “fresh blood” in the leadership of the army.

Deposed 60-year-old Li Yuchao graduated from the PLA National Defense University and joined the Second Artillery Corps, which in 2016 was transformed into the Rocket Forces. From April 2020 to January 2022, Li was the chief of staff of the Rocket Forces, and then received the main post there. In November 2022, he was elected to the CPC Central Committee.

Retired 60-year-old Liu Guangbin from 2016 to 2019 was the rector of the PLA Missile Forces Engineering University, in 2018 he also received the post of head of the department for equipping the Missile Forces, and received his last promotion in June 2022.

Appointed Commander of the Missile Forces, 62-year-old Wang Houbin has been in the PLA’s naval service since 1979. In January 2016, he was promoted to Chief of Staff of the Navy’s Southern Fleet and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy in 2018. From December 2019 until his new appointment in 2023, Wang was the vice commander of the entire Chinese fleet.

On July 25, after another “disappearance” from the public field exactly one month long, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from his post. His successor was Wang Yi, who had previously held the ministerial chair for almost 10 years, while retaining the post of head of the office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee (curator of all foreign policy). Among the most discussed versions of the true reason for the resignation of the ex-minister in the Western media is his possible extramarital affair with Hong Kong Phoenix TV host Fu Xiaotian, whom he interviewed in March 2022.

The Chinese fleet has expanded significantly in recent years: for example, it includes both a nuclear component in the form of nuclear missile submarines and a significant number of coastal complexes of heavy anti-ship missiles, says Vasily Kashin, director of the HSE Central CEMI. Wang Houbin just has a background in the field of coastal missile forces, and therefore can understand the necessary technical specifics in a new position. In addition, in itself, the command of any troops in the PLA does not imply operational command and control of troops, but responsibility for development – procurement, scientific and technical policy, etc., the expert says.

The former leaders of the Rocket Forces, most likely, disappeared from the public field precisely because of the investigation in connection with the abuse of power, suggests Kashin. It is logical that the new leader in such a situation is a person from the outside, and even in tandem with political commissar Xu Xisheng, who is largely responsible for supervision and discipline, Kashin concluded.