Leadership Shake-Up in China's Rocket Force Sparks Concerns over Nuclear Expansion and Xi's Leadership
China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force experiences unexpected leadership changes, raising questions about its future effectiveness as China expands its nuclear arsenal and missile program. Concerns over Xi Jinping's leadership and US predictions of increased nuclear warheads add to the speculation.
China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force has undergone a surprise shake-up with the appointment of two new chiefs, raising speculation about the inner workings and leadership of the military unit responsible for the country's nuclear and ballistic missiles. Chinese leader Xi Jinping named Wang Houbin as commander and Xu Xisheng as political commissar of the Rocket Force, replacing the previous chief Li Yuchao and commissar Xu Zhongbo.
The replacement of two top individuals in the Rocket Force with military personalities from outside the branch is unusual, particularly as it follows the sudden removal of China's former foreign minister, Qin Gang. The shuffle has prompted concerns about Xi's leadership and the future effectiveness of the Rocket Force, especially as China seeks to expand its nuclear arsenal and strengthen its missile program.
Satellite images have revealed the construction of numerous intercontinental ballistic missile silos in Chinese deserts, and the US Defense Department predicts a significant increase in Beijing's nuclear warheads over the next decade.
