China promotes Zhang Shengmin to Politburo after military purges
The official who oversaw the corruption crackdown is positioned to help screen candidates to rebuild the military command.
China’s Communist Party has elevated Zhang Shengmin to its Politburo, making him the leadership body’s only military member after a crackdown on corruption removed scores of generals. Zhang oversaw those removals and is now positioned to help Chinese leader Xi Jinping rebuild the armed forces’ senior ranks.
No one had been promoted to the Politburo outside a party congress for three decades before Zhang’s appointment. He had already emerged as the sole official remaining on the Central Military Commission other than Xi.
Zhang is expected to have a central part in identifying candidates and reviewing their suitability for command posts. Xi will choose from those candidates to fill vacancies left by the purges.
The appointments process comes ahead of the People’s Liberation Army’s centenary in August 2027 and a twice-a-decade leadership reshuffle. Xi has pledged that the armed forces will be more ready for combat by the centenary.
