Liaoning and her escorts. (Photo : PLAN)
A widespread change of command in the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has seen younger admirals take over command of the three fleets comprising China's navy at the start of the year.
Vice Admiral Wang Hai, former Deputy Commander of the PLAN, was promoted to Commander of the South Sea Fleet.
The fleet's former commander, Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong, was appointed Commander of the entire PLAN.
Rear Admiral Zhang Wendan, former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Southern Theater Command, is now the Commander of the North Sea Fleet.
The former fleet commander, Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai, was promoted commander of the Southern Theater Command.
Rear Admiral Wei Gang, former Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Southern Theater Command, was promoted to Commander of the East Sea Fleet.
The former fleet commander, Vice Admiral Su Zhiqian, was promoted to Deputy Commander of the PLAN.
The change of commanders of the three navy fleets took military circles by surprise and seems to indicate moves by Chinese President Xi Jinping to cement his control over the PLA and its armed services before the 19th Annual Congress of the Communist Party of China this autumn.
The reshuffle of PLAN senior officers was unique in that theater-level leaders were appointed across regions.
Admiral Wang served in the South Sea Fleet for a long time and his return to the fleet demonstrates the strategic position of South Sea Fleet in the current strategic situation and that its commander should be someone with rich experience. He was also the first commander of a PLAN aircraft carrier battle group.
Admiral Zhang served in the South Sea Fleet for a long time, and was the fleet's Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander.
Admiral Wei was Commander of the North Sea Fleet's Lvshun naval base, Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander of the Fleet and head of the PLAN's logistics department.
