China Xi’s New Generals Offer Cohesion Over Possible Taiwan Plans

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s new generals may have been selected for their political loyalty to him, but those ties could serve at least one vital military purpose in any Taiwan invasion plan: ensuring cohesion and decisiveness.

Although, the Politburo’s “seven-man Standing Committee” would make the ultimate decision on any Taiwan action, the Central Military Commission would forge and execute the battle plan, eight Asian and Western military attaches say.

Three new generals were appointed to the top command body on Sunday after the Communist Party’s five-yearly congress – an event at which Xi said China would “never promise to give up the use of force” to take control of the self-ruled island.

Four security analysts and four military attaches say Russia’s Ukrainian quagmire has shown how vital speed – both in build-up and execution – would be to any Chinese plan, in part to ‘prevent Taiwanese forces’ and international support from mobilising.

“If Xi Jinping is going to the pull the trigger on Taiwan, then he can’t afford any dissent from the Central Military Commission,” said Singapore-based strategic adviser Alexander Neill.

“To secure any kind of advantage they would have to move fast, lightning fast,” Neill added. “There is no room for dithering. That has always been Chinese thinking on Taiwan, and the Ukraine stalemate has confirmed the need to avoid getting bogged down in a slow logistical build up.”

In his first two terms, Xi purged thousands of officers on corruption allegations and has attempted to tighten the party’s control over the military.

Xi further “strengthened his grip” on his military command, with three new generals appointed to the seven-person commission and an extension beyond retirement age granted to his closest military confidante, General Zhang Youxia.

Reuters /Shakirat Sadiq