China promotes two generals, names anti-corruption chief

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has promoted two senior military officers to the rank of general, appointing one of them to lead the military's top anticorruption body as part of a sweeping effort to rebuild the depleted upper ranks of the armed forces. The promotions of Zhang Shuguang and Air Force Commander Wang Gang were made during a ceremony in Beijing on Friday, July 3.

Zhang Shuguang, a veteran anticorruption enforcer, was named the new secretary of the Central Military Commission's Discipline Inspection Commission, replacing Zhang Shengmin. Wang Gang was confirmed as the commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. The moves are seen as a direct response to an extensive, years-long anticorruption campaign that has removed scores of senior officers, creating critical vacancies across the military's leadership.

The purge has drastically reduced the membership of the Central Military Commission, the military's supreme command body. From a full complement of seven members, the commission now effectively functions with only two: Xi Jinping as chairman and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin. The promotions position Zhang Shuguang and Wang Gang as potential candidates to fill...