Two Chinese generals were seated for the first time alongside top People’s Liberation Army officers in a high-profile ceremony this week – a clear sign that they have emerged as front-runners for the leadership of the world’s largest standing army.
During an evening gala marking the 105th anniversary of the Communist Party’s founding on Monday, lieutenant generals Zhang Shuguang and Wang Gang were seated at the front of the section reserved for military leadership.
At the event, attended by President Xi Jinping and other members of the Politburo Standing Committee, the pair of generals sat alongside Defence Minister Dong Jun and General Han Shengyan, commander of the Central Theatre Command. Both Dong and Han are full generals.
Lieutenant General Zhu Chuansheng, deputy chief of staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, was also seated in the same row, though his seating position suggested a lower rank than the others.
Seating arrangements at major Chinese events follow strict protocols, generally determined by rank and seniority. The closer the seat is to the front, the higher the general’s status.
Beijing’s anti-corruption campaign has inflicted a heavy toll on the PLA’s leadership in recent years.
