A senior naval aviation officer appears to have been appointed the Chinese navy’s acting commander, highlighting the armed forces’ focus on joint operations.
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Vice-Admiral Cui Yuzhong, 61, was the highest ranking naval commanding officer at the commissioning of the Fujian aircraft carrier in the southern province of Hainan last week, according to footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV.
Cui is the deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and appeared walking behind President Xi Jinping and briefing him during an inspection of the vessel on Wednesday.
The commissioning of the Fujian – the country’s third and most advanced aircraft carrier – is regarded as the most important event this year for the Chinese military and a reflection of the PLA’s rapid modernisation.
Civilian and military officials are usually carefully vetted before they can attend such an event.
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Also present was the navy’s deputy political commissioner, Leng Shaojie.