Chinese President Xi Jinping recently carried out a review of Rocket Force personnel, with one analyst telling Newsweek Xi's appearance signals the branch has regained his favor.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Force is the custodian of China's vast arsenal of strategic missiles and its nuclear stockpile. The high-profile inspection follows China's test-launch last month of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching most of the continental United States.
The Rocket Force has been under heightened scrutiny in recent years. Former commander Li Yuchao and other former top officials on the force were last year swept up in Xi's campaign against suspected corruption and security breaches. Li was replaced by a former navy officer in a reshuffling that was considered unusual and sparked questions over Xi's trust in the branch.
During his October 17 visit to the unnamed brigade in Hefei, Anhui province, Xi inspected training exercises, was briefed on the tactical and technical capabilities of weapons and other equipment, and joined troops for a group photo, according to a state media report carried by the military's Eastern Theater Command.
In a speech, he stressed the importance of maintaining a powerful army in "the new era" and ensuring political and ideological discipline in line with the directives of the country's Central Military Commission, which Xi chairs.
Xi said the armed forces must deepen their political training and rectification and support the preeminence of Chinese Communist Party leadership. He further highlighted a need to "grasp the root of the ideological problem."
He went on to underline the need to take on root causes of "the ideological problem," "seriously investigate and deal with corruption and unhealthy tendencies around officers and soldiers," and strengthen the nation's ability to wage war, according to the report's summary of his remarks.
Also present for the review was PLA Gen. Zhang Youxia, current first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.
Newsweek reached out to the Chinese Foreign Ministry with a written request for comment.
"Xi's visit signals that the long purge of the Rocket Forces is now complete. That the current Rocket Forces' leadership lineup has passed the test and is now back in Xi's good graces," Wen-Ti Sung, political analyst and non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank, told Newsweek.
Sung pointed out the report's mention of Zhang indicates he is "politically safe," despite past speculation of involvement in scandals, particularly during his time as head of the PLA General Armaments Department.
That department, disbanded in 2016 as part of Xi's military reforms and replaced by the Equipment Development Department, historically worked closely with the Rocket Force because of its role in development, acquisition and maintenance of strategic weapons.
Sung said Xi's order to enhance combat capabilities was not intended as a warning of imminent war but as a counterpoint to "wasting energy and resources on window dressing unrelated to combat."
"That one of China's proud new nuclear submarines sank in China's interior waters likely added to the urgency of driving home this message," he added.
China reportedly lost its newest nuclear-powered attack submarine after the boat sank at a shipyard earlier this year.
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