A peak at China internal politics

[Randy W]

. . . from the SCMP. The SCMP articles require registration and are limited to 10 per month (and they tend to over-count), so this summary from the Shanghaiist may be the best read

 

SCMP: Xi Jinping may have reshuffled the division in charge of his security due to fear of internal threat

 

The reshuffle comes amid Xi's intensifying anti-graft drive in the military. In late October last year, a "military tiger", Xu Caihou, confessed to accepting bribes and abusing his power, making him one of the highest-profile figures in the military to be taken down by Xi. A separate piece by the SCMP claims that Xi Jinping was determined to break the military's hold on power after watching how his predecessor, Hu Jintao, was undermined by military officials.

 

 

 

[Randy W]

. . . and the SCMP article, in case you don't want to register

 

Hu Jintao's weak grip on China's army inspired Xi Jinping's military shake-up: sources

President's predecessor 'isolated' by deputies who acted as proxies for Jiang Zemin: sources

 

President Xi Jinping grew determined to shake up the army after he saw first-hand how his predecessor Hu Jintao was treated as a mere figurehead by his deputies, sources told the South China Morning Post.

Xi, who became the Central Military Commission's third vice-chairman in 2010, witnessed how his fellow vice-chairmen Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong took over the army's staff affairs right under Hu's nose, a military source said.

China watchers had long suspected Hu's grip on the army was weak. He succeeded former president Jiang Zemin as CMC chair only in 2004, two years after he took over from Jiang as party secretary. Even then, Jiang remained influential, installing his trusted aides Xu and Guo as Hu's deputies.

"Xu and Guo are Jiang's proxies. They left Hu isolated," a retired senior colonel said.

A source close to the People's Liberation Army's Academy of Military Sciences said: "Jiang continued to wield influence over military decisions through Xu and Guo."

Even the Americans came to doubt Hu's control. In 2011, the PLA conducted a surprise test flight of its first stealth fighter jet, the Jian-20, during then US defence minister Robert Gates' visit to Beijing. Gates saw that Hu was as stunned by the news as he was.

 

"It was clear the civilian leadership was uninformed," a senior United States official told the media that day. Gates later also said he had had "concerns about [Hu's weak control in the army] over time".

On Monday, retired major general Yang Chunchang confirmed to mainland-linked Phoenix Television that Xu and his faction had monopolised power in the military and isolated the CMC "top leader".

The military academy source said Xu, who was in charge of PLA personnel, blatantly exchanged promotions for bribes and made decisions without informing Hu.

The retired senior colonel said Guo was also responsible for sidelining Hu.

So when Xi took over from Hu in 2012, he made sure that he assumed all three key positions - president, party secretary and CMC chairman - at once and launched a sweeping anti-corruption crackdown soon after.

Last year, Xu came under investigation, becoming the most senior PLA general probed for taking bribes.

Another retired major general said Xu allegedly promoted a commander in exchange for a 20-million-yuan (HK$25 million) bribe. Such stories tarnished the army's reputation, he said.

A source close to the Guangzhou Military Command said Xu's corrupt practices were widely known.

"Many retired and serving senior officials in the Guangzhou Military Command support the investigation against Xu … He broke rules as he liked."

 

[Greg.D.]

......

Even the Americans came to doubt Hu's control. In 2011, the PLA conducted a surprise test flight of its first stealth fighter jet, the Jian-20, during then US defence minister Robert Gates' visit to Beijing. Gates saw that Hu was as stunned by the news as he was.

 

"It was clear the civilian leadership was uninformed," a senior United States official told the media that day. Gates later also said he had had "concerns about [Hu's weak control in the army] over time".

.....

 

I was reminded of this story from last year. I always thought it was a message from the PLA that they are not controlled by the president:

 

"1,000 Chinese Soldiers Cross India's Border as Xi Jinping Visits Region"

 

Army sources claimed that the troops from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) crossed 5km (3.18 miles) into Indian territory in the Indian region of Ladakh's Chumar sector.

 

In response, three Indian Army battalions were deployed to the area in what has become a tense stand-off between the two parties.

 

They moved inside the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region which lies in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

 

The incursion comes as Xi Jinping continues his visit to India to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two regional powerhouses.