China has promoted a long-time airforce officer, Chen Hui, to the rank of general, confirming him as the new army political commissar, according to a report by state news agency Xinhua on Monday.
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Chen has replaced Qin Shutong, 61, whose appointment as the army political commissar was made public in January 2022. Qin’s whereabouts are unknown.
In China, a political commissar is a military official in charge of ideology, political education and ensuring unit morale.
The appointment comes amid a slew of personnel changes within the People’s Liberation Army, with the latest being Miao Hua, a member of the powerful Central Military Commission and the director of its political work department, who was placed under investigation for corruption in November.
Qin’s 2022 promotion happened while Miao was the head of the political work department, which is in charge of military personnel changes.
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A promotion ceremony was held for Chen on Monday. It was the first such ceremony since Miao’s downfall last month.