Chinese General Zhao Zongqi, Who Led Western Theatre Command, Axed By Xi Jinping
· World · NDTV, Hindustan Times
General Zhao Zongqi has been removed as commander of China's Western Theatre Command, the formation responsible for military operations along the country's western borders, including the Line of Actual Control with India. Zhao had held the post since the command's inception in 2016, making him its first and only commander until now. He had been the operational face of China's response during the 2017 Doklam standoff with India and the 2020 Galwan clashes, which left soldiers dead on both sides. President Xi Jinping has not publicly stated the reason for the removal. The Chinese Defence Ministry has not released details on Zhao's replacement or his next posting.
Why it matters
The Western Theatre Command is the PLA body that would be activated in any future India-China border flare-up, so a change in its top commander at this point directly shapes Beijing's military posture along the LAC and the calculus in New Delhi.
Read the original report — NDTV
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