Two senior officers promoted to general, highest military rank in China

Xi Jinping, chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), has promoted two senior officers of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to the rank of general, the highest active service rank in China.

The promotion ceremony was held at the CMC headquarters in Beijing on July 3. Xi, who also holds the positions of general-secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese president, personally presented the promotion order documents. The recipients were Zhang Shuguang, secretary of the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission and director of the CMC Commission of Supervision, and Wang Gang, commander of the PLA Air Force.

Both officers were previously lieutenant generals. Xi congratulated the newly promoted generals and posed for a group photograph with them. Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the CMC, presided over the ceremony and announced the promotion orders, which were signed by Xi.

Publicly available information indicates that Zhang Shuguang has extensive experience in discipline inspection within the armed forces. Wang Gang has served in various capacities within the PLA Air Force, including as training chief, assistant to the chief of staff, and chief of staff. This is the first time Xi has promoted officers to the rank of general since December 2025, when Yang Zhibin and Han Shengyan, both senior commanders in the PLA Air Force, received the highest service title.