Politics Watch: Decoding the Convening of Enlarged Military Meetings
◎ Xi is likely seeking to strengthen his control over the military in a crucial period.
MILITARY
Two-thirds of Department Heads in China’s Top Military Body Have Been Replaced
◎ Two-thirds of department heads in the CMC have been replaced in the past 20 months.
China’s Military Gets a New Logistics Support Director, and Likely a New Missile Force Commander
◎ Purged military members are often replaced by people who owe their promotions to Xi.
Xi Now Controls All Armed Services and Two Key Military Departments
◎ Whoever controls the military sets the agenda in the CCP.
Kim Gets No Well-wishes From China on North Korea Anniversary
◎ We have reason to believe that N. Korea’s nuclear provocations are orchestrated by Xi’s factional rivals who are Kim’s Chinese political backers.
Jiang Zemin’s Ex-Secretary Not Invited to 19th Congress, Likely Sidelined
◎ Jia Tingan has been left out of the official list of delegates to the upcoming 19th Party Congress.
North Korea Nuke Test Challenges Xi at Crucial Period
◎ North Korea’s sixth nuclear test on September 3 took place just hours before Xi Jinping addressed leaders of BRICS countries in the southeastern Chinese city of Xiamen.
Xi Jinping Suddenly Replaces a Top Military Commissar
◎ The abrupt promotion of Miao by Xi is consistent with changing personnel trends in the Chinese military.
Hundreds of Chinese Generals Involved in Military Reshuffle
◎ The Chinese media is finally getting a better sense of the scale of Xi Jinping’s military reform.
Sino-US Military Agreement Could Tip Factional Struggle
◎ The new Sino-US military agreement could serve several purposes.