Jiang secures loyalty of military

China's heir apparent Hu Jintao is being groomed to take over the PLA

(CNN) -- Chinese President Jiang Zemin has promoted seven military officers to the rank of full generals in an apparent effort to secure the loyalty of the top brass in the run-up to the 16th Communist party congress.

Since large-scale central- and regional-level reshuffles began late last year, Jiang, also head of the Central Military Commission (CMC), has also named up to 100 new lieutenant and major generals.

The freshly minted generals, aged between 60 and 63, include the newly named Air Force Commander Qiao Qingchen, and the commanders of Shenyang, Jinan and Nanjing military regions, respectively Qian Guoliang, Chen Bingde and Liang Guanglie.

Qiao last month took over the air force command from General Liu Shunyao, who is suffering from cancer.

With resources shifting away from the army to the air and naval forces, Qiao is considered a rising star in the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

War games

Liang has received commendation from the CMC for his effective running of the Nanjing military region, which covers areas close to Taiwan.

Liang is the commanding officer for the series of war games that the PLA holds every year along the southeast coast.

Western military analysts said in return for the promotions and the annual budgetary boost, PLA officers have consistently professed loyalty to Jiang.

A few dozen members of the top brass have written petitions to party authorities saying that for the sake of stability and continuity, Jiang, 75, should be given one more term as CMC chairman at the Congress.

Meanwhile, Jiang is slowly grooming his heir apparent, Hu Jintao, also CMC vice-chairman, to take over the helm at the PLA.

At Sunday's ceremony, it was Hu who read out Jiang's order proclaiming the promotion of the seven senior officers.

Like Jiang, Hu was wearing a Mao tunic for the occasion, which got a lot of publicity among the rank and file.

Analysts say while Hu is in line to become CMC chairman when Jiang vacates the post in a few years' time, it will take a long time before the younger leader can secure the same level of loyalty from the generals.