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Xi appoints new army commander to lead PLA troops at Indo-China border

WION Web Team
BeijingUpdated: Sep 07, 2021, 05:25 PM IST
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China's President Xi Jinping gives a speech via video link at the opening of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, (FOCAC) in Dakar, Senegal Photograph:(Reuters)

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In a change of guard, China's President Xi Jinping has appointed Gen Wang Haijiang as the new Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command. The Western Theatre Command oversees the borders with India

In a change of guard, China's President Xi Jinping has appointed Gen Wang Haijiang as the new Commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command, official media reported. The Western Theatre Command oversees the borders with India.  

The ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) chief Jinping also heads the Central Military Commission (CMC). The CMC is the overall high command of the country's army. 

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The 68-year-old leader has promoted Wang and four other military officers to the rank of General, the highest rank for officers in active military service in China, reported state-run website chinamil on Monday. He also presented certificates of order promoting them to the military rank of General, the report said. 

"The promoted officers are Commander of the PLA Western Theater Command Wang Haijiang, Commander of the PLA Central Theater Command Lin Xiangyang, Commander of the PLA Navy Dong Jun and Commander of the PLA Air Force Chang Dingqiu and President of PLA National Defence University Xu Xueqiang," the report added. 

Since the eastern Ladakh standoff began in May last year, Gen Wang is the fourth commander to head the Western Theatre Command. 

(With inputs from agencies)