Beijing promotes PLA generals

Jiang has offered to retire from the CMC several times

By Willy Wo-Lap Lam
Senior China Analyst

(CNN) -- The Chinese leadership has tentatively decided to promote two modernization-minded generals to the Communist party Politburo next year.

However, the question of whether President Jiang Zemin will step down from his post of Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) has yet to be settled.

A source close to the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said Generals Cao Gangchuan and Guo Boxiong were slated to be inducted to the policy-setting Politburo at the 16th Chinese Communist Party next year.

Cao, deemed a Jiang protégé, is head of the PLA's General Equipment Department and a key figure in the modernization of the military arsenal.

Guo, First Vice-Chief of Staff of the Army, is a noted military strategist. He accompanied Jiang to North Korea last week.

IN-DEPTH China's Communist Party: 80 years of power Question of communism Profile: Jiang Zemin Timeline: China Messageboard

Cao and Guo are expected to replace veteran Generals Zhang Wannian and Chi Haotian as CMC vice-chairmen and Politburo members next year.

The PLA source said Jiang, who has headed the CMC since 1990, gave two instructions about army affairs in a recent internal meeting.

Firstly, Jiang said the rejuvenation of military officers must be speeded up so that the PLA can set the pace for rejuvenation in civilian departments.

Secondly, the president again pledged more resources to the upgrading of weaponry, particularly that in the air force, the navy and the missile squad.

Alternative scheme

Beijing-based Western diplomats said at the recently convened leadership meetings at the Beidaihe resort, Jiang again offered to retire from the CMC at the 16th party congress.

However, the diplomats said a few dozen generals had written to the CMC asking Jiang to serve for a few more years -- and that Jiang might eventually agree to do so.

Several Jiang aides are also working on an alternative scheme.

This consists in the creation of a new party organ in charge of national security affairs.

Under this scenario, Jiang will retire from the CMC but still oversee military as well as diplomatic affairs in his new capacity as head of the party unit handling national security.