Top China military chief to retire

JAKARTA (JP): China's top military chief will be forced into retirement due to a series of economic-related scandals that have tarnished the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Jane's Defence Weekly reported this week.

Beijing-based sources told the magazine that Gen. Zhang Wannian, the 71-year-old executive vice chairman of China's policy-setting Central Military Commission (CMC) and a member of the ruling politburo, is due to step down at a plenary meeting of the Communist Party's central committee next month.

He will be replaced by Gen. Chi Haotian, currently defence minister and also a CMC vice chairman.

The magazine said Chinese President Jiang Zemin, concurrently Communist secretary-general and CMC chairman, asked for Zhang's resignation following a series of incidents that highlighted the heavy involvement of the PLA and military affiliated companies in smuggling and other illegal activities. (bnt)