China's Taiwan Unification D-5 Years... Eastern Theater Command Commander Appointed 3rd in Military Rank

Appointed as Vice Chairman No. 2 of the Central Military Commission and Commander in Charge of Taiwan and the Taiwan Strait
Xi Jinping Assigns Military Personnel with Combat Experience Including Vietnam War Participation

[Asia Economy Senior Reporter Cho Young-shin] Amid the Chinese Communist Party's constitution, the Party Constitution (Dangjang) explicitly stating "firm opposition to Taiwan independence," the commander of the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese military has been named among the 24 members of the Central Political Bureau.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Chinese People's Liberation Army is composed of five theater commands (Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central), with the Eastern Theater Command responsible for Taiwan and the East China Sea.

According to Chinese media including the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, the People's Daily, on the 24th, Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman No. 2 of the Central Military Commission, and He Weidong, commander of the Eastern Theater Command, were included as members of the Political Bureau.

Through the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Vice Chairman Zhang was promoted to First Vice Chairman, and Commander He was appointed as Vice Chairman No. 2.

Notably, Commander He simultaneously entered the Central Military Commission as one of its seven members and secured the position of Vice Chairman No. 2, the third highest rank in the Chinese military hierarchy, drawing significant attention to the background of this appointment. Considering that First Vice Chairman Zhang is 72 years old, it is expected that Vice Chairman He will oversee the entire Chinese military in five years.

The appointment of a military official overseeing Taiwan and the East China Sea as Vice Chairman No. 2 appears to express the Chinese leadership's strong determination toward Taiwan's unification.

In this regard, the South China Morning Post (SCMP) analyzed that this sends a clear signal that the Chinese military will focus on Taiwan over the next five years.

Chinese military expert Song Zhongping explained, "Vice Chairman He is a general with a military base in Fujian Province, the Chinese province closest to Taiwan," adding, "Commander He's promotion to Vice Chairman shows that military preparedness toward Taiwan is being strengthened."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Lee Nan, an exchange professor at the East Asian Institute of the National University of Singapore, stated, "Fujian Province is the frontline of Taiwan unification," and expressed confidence that "the Taiwan issue is one of the reasons behind Vice Chairman He's promotion."

Miao Hua, director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, also previously served in the 31st Army Group in Fujian Province and is regarded as a military official well-versed in the Taiwan Strait.

Breaking the "seven up, eight down" (七上八下) principle?where 67-year-olds remain in office and 68-year-olds retire?Zhang Youxia, First Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, is analyzed to have been reappointed due to his strong trust within the military.

It is also believed that his oversight of China's military modernization and space exploration programs during Xi Jinping's first term as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (also President and Chairman of the Central Military Commission) was taken into account. The Chinese Communist Party has set a goal to achieve military modernization by the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in 2027. Personal ties with President Xi (Princeling faction) also played a role, and he is regarded as a figure who will support Xi's military command over the next five years.

Above all, the dominant analysis is that this Central Military Commission personnel appointment, focusing on Zhang's combat experience in the Vietnam War, was made with Taiwan as the focal point.

The SCMP reported that Liu Zhenli, former commander of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force with combat experience in the Vietnam War, is expected to be appointed as chief of staff of the Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.