The personnel changes in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been shrouded in mystery recently. It was previously reported that Fang Yongxiang had been appointed as the Director of the Office of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), replacing Zhong Shaojun. However, on September 13, Fang Yongxiang was appointed as a member of the PLA Election Committee, while Zhong Shaojun’s reported new role as the Political Commissar of the National Defense University remains unconfirmed.
According to an announcement by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the CPC on the 13th, Fang Yongxiang was appointed as a member of the PLA Election Committee. However, the official statement did not specify his current position.
Public records show that Fang Yongxiang, born in August 1966 in Tong’an, Xiamen, Fujian Province, is currently 58 years old. He has served in the 31st Group Army of the former Nanjing Military Region, including positions as a Divisional Political Commissar, Political Commissar of the 81st Group Army, Deputy Minister (concurrent) of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Assistant Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission, Deputy Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Command, and Army Political Commissar of the Theater Command. Holding the rank of Major General, he is also an alternate member of the 20th Central Committee.
In February this year, the “Guangxi Daily” reported that Fang Yongxiang had participated in local activities while serving as the Army Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Command.
On April 3, a Hong Kong-based media outlet with close ties to Chinese Communist Party made an exclusive announcement that Lieutenant General Zhong Shaojun had been appointed as the Political Commissar of the National Defense University of the CPC Central Military Commission.
Although this information has not been officially confirmed, a footage from CCTV on April 23 showed Fang Yongxiang, along with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, accompanying Xi Jinping during his visit to the Army Medical University in Chongqing. Meanwhile, the standard official accompanying officer, Zhong Shaojun, was not present.
On April 26, the Hong Kong media “Sing Tao Daily” revealed that Fang Yongxiang had taken over Zhong Shaojun’s role in the Military Commission’s office.
Zhang Shaomin was born on October 19, 1968, in Kaihua, Quzhou, Zhejiang. He has served as Deputy Director of the Organization Department of Zhejiang Province and later became the personal secretary to Xi Jinping, who was then Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee. Zhong followed Xi to Shanghai and then to Beijing, transitioning into the military. He held key positions such as Director of the Military Commission’s Office, Director of the Chairman’s Office of the Military Commission, Director of the Reform and Organization Office of the Central Military Commission, and Director of the Leading Group Office for Military Reform of the Central Military Commission. Zhong Shaomin is seen by outsiders as a watchdog role controlled by Xi.
Zhong Shaomai was appointed as a member of the Military Elections Committee in December 2017 and was reappointed in December 2022.
There is still no official confirmation on whether Zhong Shaomai is being transferred to the National Defense University as the Political Commissar.
Looking at official Chinese media reports, Zhong Shaomai made two appearances in the first half of this year.
On June 17, Xi Jinping held a PLA Political Work Conference in Yan’an. From the televised discussions reported by the Chinese official media, Xiao Tianliang, the Political Commissar of the National Defense University, was present, while the Principal Zheng He was absent. According to reports, Lieutenant General Fang Yongxiang, who was allegedly appointed as the Director of the Central Military Commission’s Office, was also present. Zhong Shaomai was also present, sitting alongside General Yang Xuejun and Ling Huanxin.
On August 22, the 120th anniversary of the birth of the former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, an official commemorative symposium was held, where Zhong Shaomai was in attendance.
Some overseas observers previously speculated that if Zhong Shaomai were to concurrently serve as the Political Commissar of the National Defense University, it would signal a promotion in rank from Major General to Lieutenant General. However, footage of Zhong Shaomai showed that he still retains the rank of Major General, indicated by his two-star epaulets.