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| New Leaders of Military in China Announced | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BEIJING — China announced the promotions of five generals this week, shaping the top leadership of the rapidly modernizing military as it becomes a more powerful player in Asia and challenges American dominance in the region. | BEIJING — China announced the promotions of five generals this week, shaping the top leadership of the rapidly modernizing military as it becomes a more powerful player in Asia and challenges American dominance in the region. |
| Even as the Chinese economy slows, the military is likely to remain well financed, analysts say. The new leaders are expected to push ahead with developing naval and air power that can rival the United States and with cyberwarfare capabilities, which the Chinese see as a new and effective way to project power. | Even as the Chinese economy slows, the military is likely to remain well financed, analysts say. The new leaders are expected to push ahead with developing naval and air power that can rival the United States and with cyberwarfare capabilities, which the Chinese see as a new and effective way to project power. |
| The new appointees will almost certainly become members of the Central Military Commission, a 12-member body that oversees the Chinese military and that is undergoing major changes as members reach mandatory retirement age. | The new appointees will almost certainly become members of the Central Military Commission, a 12-member body that oversees the Chinese military and that is undergoing major changes as members reach mandatory retirement age. |
| The jockeying for vacant positions has by all accounts been fierce, with much of it riding on personal allegiances to President Hu Jintao or Vice President Xi Jinping. Mr. Xi is expected to succeed Mr. Hu as Communist Party leader at the 18th Party Congress, scheduled to open on Nov. 8, and as president next year. The full slate of commission members will be unveiled at the Party Congress. | The jockeying for vacant positions has by all accounts been fierce, with much of it riding on personal allegiances to President Hu Jintao or Vice President Xi Jinping. Mr. Xi is expected to succeed Mr. Hu as Communist Party leader at the 18th Party Congress, scheduled to open on Nov. 8, and as president next year. The full slate of commission members will be unveiled at the Party Congress. |
| Mr. Hu is chairman of the commission, and one of the big questions hovering over the Party Congress is whether he will yield this post to Mr. Xi, or hold onto it for two more years. | Mr. Hu is chairman of the commission, and one of the big questions hovering over the Party Congress is whether he will yield this post to Mr. Xi, or hold onto it for two more years. |
| Based on family connections and his own professional experience, Mr. Xi has stronger ties to the military than Mr. Hu, and analysts say that in many respects the military considers him one of their own. | Based on family connections and his own professional experience, Mr. Xi has stronger ties to the military than Mr. Hu, and analysts say that in many respects the military considers him one of their own. |
| Whether that means Mr. Xi will rein in the military or give it greater scope as China asserts what it calls its territorial rights in the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the next decade will be one of the most important strategic questions facing the country as it enters its new leadership phase, they say. | Whether that means Mr. Xi will rein in the military or give it greater scope as China asserts what it calls its territorial rights in the South China Sea and the East China Sea over the next decade will be one of the most important strategic questions facing the country as it enters its new leadership phase, they say. |
| Among those promoted was Gen. Ma Xiaotian, a former fighter pilot who will become head of the air force, a service that is now coming to the fore after long being relegated to a back seat. | Among those promoted was Gen. Ma Xiaotian, a former fighter pilot who will become head of the air force, a service that is now coming to the fore after long being relegated to a back seat. |
| “General Ma is unusually outspoken,” said Chas W. Freeman Jr., former assistant secretary of defense, who has met with Chinese military figures. “He does not yield easily to those with whom he disagrees, though he is willing to do so if an argument of sufficient logical force is presented. He is self-confident enough to really enjoy the rough-and-tumble of policy argument.” | “General Ma is unusually outspoken,” said Chas W. Freeman Jr., former assistant secretary of defense, who has met with Chinese military figures. “He does not yield easily to those with whom he disagrees, though he is willing to do so if an argument of sufficient logical force is presented. He is self-confident enough to really enjoy the rough-and-tumble of policy argument.” |
| In May, General Ma told a TV station based in Hong Kong that the South China Sea, where China is making increasing territorial claims, was “none of the United States’ business.” | In May, General Ma told a TV station based in Hong Kong that the South China Sea, where China is making increasing territorial claims, was “none of the United States’ business.” |
| The Chinese Air Force is now “seeking to create the kind of air power that can rival the U.S., and to create similar stealth, precision strike and long-range strike capabilities,” said Anthony H. Cordesman, the senior military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. | The Chinese Air Force is now “seeking to create the kind of air power that can rival the U.S., and to create similar stealth, precision strike and long-range strike capabilities,” said Anthony H. Cordesman, the senior military analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. |
| Gen. Zhang Youxia, who has publicly criticized the military for its lack of combat experience, was promoted to be director of the General Armament Department, which oversees procurement and research. | Gen. Zhang Youxia, who has publicly criticized the military for its lack of combat experience, was promoted to be director of the General Armament Department, which oversees procurement and research. |
| General Zhang, one of the few senior commanders who does have battlefield experience, was quoted in 2009 as saying: “The fires of war are burning throughout the world. In this area, the gap between the Chinese military and foreign militaries is growing by the day. This is a real problem.” | General Zhang, one of the few senior commanders who does have battlefield experience, was quoted in 2009 as saying: “The fires of war are burning throughout the world. In this area, the gap between the Chinese military and foreign militaries is growing by the day. This is a real problem.” |
Bree Feng contributed research. | Bree Feng contributed research. |
| This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: October 25, 2012 | Correction: October 25, 2012 |
An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of China’s defense minister. He is Liang Guanglie, not Guangli. | An earlier version of this article misspelled the given name of China’s defense minister. He is Liang Guanglie, not Guangli. |