Beijing, Oct 25: Amidst looming national leadership transition and escalating tensions with Japan, China today appointed a new army Chief of Staff along with several other top officers, sidelining generals associated with disgraced Communist Party leader Bo Xilai.
Gen Fang Fenghui, who was one of the few military commanders regarded as close to President Hu Jintao has been appointed as the Chief of the Headquarters of the General Staff of the 2.3 million strong People's Liberation Army, (PLA).
He succeeds Gen Chen Bingde.
Gen Fang was the Commander of the Beijing Military Region.
Besides his appointment, a host of officers have been reshuffled and appointed to various key Commands.
Liu Yuan, the Political Commissar of the General Logistics Departments, and Gen Zhang Haiyang, the head of the political department of the Second Artillery Division, who were reportedly associated with Bo in the past were sidelined.
Bo is currently awaiting trial for various charges against him.
Informed sources said besides the Army Chief, many Commanders who got top posts in today's reshuffle were one way or the other associated with Hu.
This raises speculation that the outgoing President not only got his way in getting his men appointed to key slots of the military, he may also continue to be the Chairman of the all powerful Military Commission, which governs the defence structure in China.
In many ways Hu is looking to follow his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, who after relinquishing the Presidency continued to be Chairman of the Military Commission for two years before handing over the baton to Hu.
Analysts say that Hu too is expected to do the same. The new appointments came ahead of the key Congress of the ruling Communist Party which will be held on November 8 to select new leaders.
The appointments were made today amid China's rising tensions with Japan over the disputed islands.
