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xinhui · 03-06-2008, 00:44 AM

Been saying that for the past few years already.

China-Vietnam war vet eyes defence portfolio - sources
Tue Mar 4, 2008 1:19pm IST

By Benjamin Kang Lim

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese General Liang Guanglie, a key player in the event of war over Taiwan, is likely to become defence minister, sources with ties to the leadership said on Tuesday.

The National People's Congress, or parliament, is set to approve Liang's nomination as both defence minister and state councillor at its annual session March 5-18, two sources said, requesting anonymity.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split in 1949 amid civil war and threatened to attack the self-ruled democratic island if it formally declares independence.

China's defence minister holds little independent power, with military policy set by the Central Military Commission headed by President Hu Jintao.

But that role would put Liang in a prominent spot as the chief explainer of Chinese military policy to the outside world. As well, state councillor is a powerful advisory position that outranks a cabinet minister and would give Liang the ear of China's state leaders.

Liang, 67, who fought in China's brief and humiliating 1979 border war with Vietnam, will replace General Cao Gangchuan, 72, who will retire.

In a departure from tradition, the new defence minister will neither be a member of the Communist Party's 25-member decision-making Politburo nor a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, the top military body.

"The vice-chairmen of the Military Commission will focus on modernisation," one source told Reuters, referring to transformation of the 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army, the world's biggest armed forces.

The defence minister will be China's face to the outside world and "be responsible for receiving foreign dignitaries", the source added.

The defence portfolio eluded General Guo Boxiong, one of two vice-chairmen of the military commission, because of a tepid relationship with the civilian leadership, a second source said.

Liang, a mere member of the military commission, was passed over for promotion to vice-chairman in a leadership reshuffle at the Communist Party's 17th Congress last October.

A native of the southwestern province of Sichuan, he joined the People's Liberation Army in 1958 when he was 17.

As commander of the Nanjing Military Region in the eastern province of Jiangsu from 1999 to 2002, Liang became "familiar with Taiwan-related military combat", according to Hong Kong's Beijing-funded Wen Wei Po daily.

Liang stepped down as chief of the general staff last September after almost five years in that job.

China unveiled another double-digit rise in military spending on Tuesday, 17.6 percent, for a modernisation plan heavily scrutinised overseas, and again warned Taiwan that Beijing would "tolerate no division".

03-06-2008, 00:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
xinhui Lei Feng Protege *Defense Professional* Join Date: 05-17-06 Posts: 656	Been saying that for the past few years already. China-Vietnam war vet eyes defence portfolio - sources Tue Mar 4, 2008 1:19pm IST By Benjamin Kang Lim BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese General Liang Guanglie, a key player in the event of war over Taiwan, is likely to become defence minister, sources with ties to the leadership said on Tuesday. The National People's Congress, or parliament, is set to approve Liang's nomination as both defence minister and state councillor at its annual session March 5-18, two sources said, requesting anonymity. China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since their split in 1949 amid civil war and threatened to attack the self-ruled democratic island if it formally declares independence. China's defence minister holds little independent power, with military policy set by the Central Military Commission headed by President Hu Jintao. But that role would put Liang in a prominent spot as the chief explainer of Chinese military policy to the outside world. As well, state councillor is a powerful advisory position that outranks a cabinet minister and would give Liang the ear of China's state leaders. Liang, 67, who fought in China's brief and humiliating 1979 border war with Vietnam, will replace General Cao Gangchuan, 72, who will retire. In a departure from tradition, the new defence minister will neither be a member of the Communist Party's 25-member decision-making Politburo nor a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, the top military body. "The vice-chairmen of the Military Commission will focus on modernisation," one source told Reuters, referring to transformation of the 2.3-million-strong People's Liberation Army, the world's biggest armed forces. The defence minister will be China's face to the outside world and "be responsible for receiving foreign dignitaries", the source added. The defence portfolio eluded General Guo Boxiong, one of two vice-chairmen of the military commission, because of a tepid relationship with the civilian leadership, a second source said. Liang, a mere member of the military commission, was passed over for promotion to vice-chairman in a leadership reshuffle at the Communist Party's 17th Congress last October. A native of the southwestern province of Sichuan, he joined the People's Liberation Army in 1958 when he was 17. As commander of the Nanjing Military Region in the eastern province of Jiangsu from 1999 to 2002, Liang became "familiar with Taiwan-related military combat", according to Hong Kong's Beijing-funded Wen Wei Po daily. Liang stepped down as chief of the general staff last September after almost five years in that job. China unveiled another double-digit rise in military spending on Tuesday, 17.6 percent, for a modernisation plan heavily scrutinised overseas, and again warned Taiwan that Beijing would "tolerate no division".