CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
China named Rear Admiral Hu Zhongming as the next commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) on December 25th, succeeding Admiral Dong Jun. The leadership transition comes at a time when tensions between China and its neighbors are rising over disputed regions in the East and South China Seas.
Hu’s Background
Hu's naval career is shrouded in mystery. He joined the PLA for the first time in 1979. According to Chinese official media, he once commanded a submarine, and his crew received a top merit award in 2013. Hu was credited for preventing a severe accident during tests of a new submarine model in 2008. According to the minimal information available, Hu has vast experience in submarine warfare.
The Naval Capabilities Of China
China has the world's largest fleet in terms of vessel count. Hu commands three major fleets: the North Sea Fleet, the East Sea Fleet, and the South Sea Fleet. The South Sea Fleet has increased its presence in the South China Sea, where China contends with Southeast Asian countries over overlapping claims. Meanwhile, any confrontation near Taiwan or Japan would most certainly be led by the East Sea Fleet. China's navy also routinely conducts joint exercises with Russia.
Regional Consequences
Hu's nomination comes at a time when China is employing increasingly aggressive "gray-zone" tactics to intimidate neighbors and pursue territorial goals. Chinese warships and coast guard ships are increasingly patrolling contested areas of the South China Sea on a regular basis, causing clashes with Vietnamese, Philippine, and Malaysian forces. China is also strengthening its naval presence in the Indian Ocean, which has alarmed India.
Meanwhile, rhetoric and military posturing toward Taiwan have hit new lows. Admiral Hari Kumar of the Indian Navy has raised worry about the presence of over 50 vessels from extra-regional countries such as China and Russia in the Indo-Pacific.
Loyalty Over Merit?
Some commentators believe Hu was chosen for his political dependability more than his professional abilities. Dong Jun, his predecessor, still had three years before the PLA's standard retirement age. China has seen rapid replacements of key generals without clear explanations since last year. These actions underscore President Xi Jinping's tremendous focus on strengthening military allegiance to himself and the Chinese Communist Party. Xi instructed the PLA in July to "uphold the party's absolute leadership." In the PLA's leadership appointments, political loyalty appears to be valued more than professional experience.
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