China has undergone a significant leadership change in its elite unit responsible for managing the country's nuclear arsenal, leading to speculation about a possible purge, BBC reports.
General Li Yuchao, the head of the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Rocket Force unit, and his deputy have been absent for several months, prompting replacements in the form of former deputy navy chief Wang Houbin and party central committee member Xu Xisheng.
The new appointees have been announced and promoted from the rank of lieutenant general to full general which in China marks the highest rank for active service officers on July 31.
This unexpected shake-up in Beijing's military leadership is the most significant in nearly a decade. Analysts point out that President Xi Jinping's efforts to consolidate control over the PLA are ongoing, with concerns about corruption and the need for unwavering loyalty to the party.
In July, Xi Jinping participated in a meeting at which he pointed out the need to focus efforts on "addressing prominent issues faced by party organizations at all levels, in aspects such as maintaining the party's absolute leadership over the military", Chinese state media report.
The whereabouts of the replaced leaders have not been officially disclosed, though there are reports of an anti-corruption investigation. The recent leadership changes pose a major challenge for President Xi, as previous military purges occurred in the country in 2014, leading to the ousting and prosecution of top military officials due to corruption.
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