China gets new navy chief as tensions rise
The Straits Times|December 27, 2023
Change comes as Beijing flexes muscles in South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait

China unveiled a new head of its navy, a move that comes amid worsening tensions in the South China Sea.

Former submariner Hu Zhongming was promoted to the rank of general at a ceremony in Beijing attended by President Xi Jinping on Dec 25, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The article marked the first time General Hu was publicly referred to as commander of the world's largest navy by number of vessels.

China's military is known for providing few details on key personnel moves. The report did not say what is next for General Dong Jun, who appeared as head of the navy in 2021. He also attended the ceremony, according to a Xinhua photo.

The change comes as China flexes its muscles in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its own, and in the Taiwan Strait.

This story is from the December 27, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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This story is from the December 27, 2023 edition of The Straits Times.

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