Former China defence minister Chang Wanquan ‘given military demotion over link to corruption case’
- Chang was close to disgraced former Central Military Commission vice-chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, source says
- Demotion could be seen as light treatment that would give the 70-year-old an easy retirement, according to another source
A Chinese former defence minister and state councillor was demoted for his involvement in the corruption that brought down two disgraced vice-chairmen of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), military sources have said.
General Chang Wanquan, 70, who was also a member of the CMC from 2007 until his retirement in March 2018, was demoted two grades to a deputy regional commander-level officer because of his close relationship with former commission vice-chairmen Guo Boxiong and Xu Caihou, one source close to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) told the South China Morning Post.
There had not been an official announcement of Chang’s demotion, but military insiders said that the downgrading of his retirement benefits indicated his reduction in military rank.
Senior military officials of lieutenant general rank or above were entitled to live in a stand-alone house, insiders said.
“Chang’s residence was moved to two apartments in the former armoured force’s complex in Haidian District, indicating that his retirement benefit was downgraded to be parallel to a deputy regional military commander,” one source, who requested anonymity, said.