On August 9, Beijing will hold a rehearsal for the “September 3rd” military parade. After 6 p.m., Chang’an Avenue will be closed off; no vehicles or pedestrians will be allowed to enter. (Screenshot from video / Composite by Dajiyuan)
[People News] There are only 10 days left until the CCP's September 3 military parade. The office of the parade leadership group recently provided updates on the preparations. However, there is still a critical issue that Zhongnanhai has yet to address. Independent commentator Du Zheng has published an article revealing that due to turmoil within the senior military leadership, the appointment of this year's overall commander for the parade may face challenges.
On August 22, Taiwan's 'Shang Bao' published Du Zheng's article, which first outlined the overall commanders of military parades in Beijing since the CCP's establishment.
Historically, the overall commanders of these parades have typically been the commanders of the Beijing Military Region (now known as the Central Theatre Command following military reforms).
For this year's September 3 parade, the CCP has announced that Xi Jinping will review the troops, but has not disclosed the name of the overall commander.
Du Zheng suggests that, based on current military information, the selection of the overall commander is likely to be problematic, and the final choice may come as a surprise.
Official information from July 2024 indicates that the former commander of the Central Theatre Command, Huang Ming, has been reassigned to the Northern Theatre Command.
Currently, public records show that the position of commander of the Central Theatre Command is vacant.
Hong Kong's 'Sing Tao Daily' reported on August 2 last year that there were rumours that the former commander of the Northern Theatre Command, Air Force General Wang Qiang, was reassigned to the Central Theatre Command.
However, there has been no official announcement regarding Wang Qiang's reassignment to the Central Theatre Command. Official sources indicate that the current political commissar of the Central Theatre Command is Xu Deqing.
On July 31 of this year, a significant number of serving generals were absent from the CCP's August 1 reception.
Du Zheng noted that at least nine active-duty generals were absent from this reception, including He Hongjun, the Executive Deputy Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission; Wang Chunning, the Commander of the Armed Police Force; Zhang Hongbing, the Political Commissar; Hu Zhongming, the Commander of the Navy; Yuan Huazhi, the Political Commissar; Li Qiaoming, the Commander of the Army; Qin Shutong, the Political Commissar; Xu Deqing, the Political Commissar of the Central Theater Command; and Wang Qiang, who is rumored to be the Commander of the Central Theater Command.
Among these individuals, He Hongjun, Wang Chunning, Zhang Hongbing, Yuan Huazhi, and Qin Shutong have previously been rumoured to be in trouble. Army Commander Li Qiaoming was absent from the Central Military Commission's promotion ceremony for generals at the end of last year, alongside Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning, but he did appear at this year's 'Two Sessions' and is now missing from this important event again.
On June 21, 2025, former Chinese Navy officer Yao Cheng revealed on the social platform X that, according to reports from Navy insiders, Commander Hu Zhongming was unexpectedly dismissed, with Vice Commander Cui Yuzhong set to take over.
Du Zheng analyzed that although Wang Qiang, rumored to be the Commander of the Central Theater Command, and Xu Deqing, the Political Commissar of the Central Theater Command, have not been rumored to be in trouble, their absence from such a significant occasion suggests that, in line with the Chinese Communist Party's secretive approach to handling high-ranking officials, it is highly likely that both are facing issues. This also indicates that the upcoming grand military parade in Beijing may struggle to find a commander.
Du Zheng speculated that the authorities might have four temporary solutions to address this situation.
The first option is for the Deputy Commander of the Central Theatre Command to take on the role of commander. However, Major General Li Zhizhong, who was promoted to Deputy Commander of the Central Theatre Command in May 2023, was confirmed to have lost his representative qualification by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on February 27, 2024, indicating that he has already encountered problems.
The second option involves a replacement by the commander of the Beijing Garrison District. However, official information indicates that Fu Wenhua, the commander of the Beijing Garrison District, was reassigned as the deputy commander of the Armed Police Force in March of this year, and his successor has not yet been determined.
The third option breaks with tradition by bringing in a general from another military theatre to serve as the chief commander of the parade. While this has drawn international mockery, it remains a feasible solution.
The fourth option would see Liu Zhenli, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, or even Zhang Youxia, the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, take on the role of chief commander.
Du Zheng estimates that Liu Zhenli is more likely to take action. This is due to the fact that Zhang Youxia has been rumoured to be the key figure undermining Xi Jinping's military authority, a claim that has already gained international attention. Following the reported 'disappearance' of another Military Commission Vice Chairman, He Weidong, Zhang Youxia has assumed sole control of the military. If he appears alongside Xi during the military parade, it could further validate these rumours and stir international public opinion.
Du Zheng remarked that Zhongnanhai is likely to be at a loss this time, and the final decision on who will serve as the commander of the military parade may come as a surprise.
At present, the Beijing Garrison District, which is responsible for the capital's defence, as well as the Central Theatre Command, are facing leadership vacancies. Du Zheng believes that the individual who will soon oversee the preparations for the military parade and manage the city's defence should be Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia.
(First published in People News) △
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