Chinese President Xi Jinping met Guizhou delegation at the second plenary session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) held in March 2014. Chen Min'er, who is sitting on the right to Xi Jinping and raising a hand, has been newly appointed secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China./ Source from Xinhua News Agency

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By Hong Soon-do, Beijing correspondent, AsiaToday - Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), is putting his own men into key positions in the military. Since Xi is the type of man who hardly abandons those he trusts, this phenomenon is likely to accelerate further.

Taking together the reports of Chinese state-run media outlets including Xinhua News Agency on August 2, this is clearly seen in the military. A majority of Xi Jinping's own men were promoted to full general, the highest rank for officers in active service, on the eve of China's "Army Day" on August 1. One of the most notable promoted officers is PLA Navy Political Commissar Miao Hua (60), who became the youngest full general. Miao has been Xi's loyal officer for a long time since he served in the 31st Group Army within the Nanjing Military Region, when Xi was a senior cadre in the province. Also notable promoted officers include Song Puxuan (61), Beijing Military Command chief, and Wang Ning (60), commander of the armed police force. The two of them are known as Xi's loyal military officers since 2007, when Xi Jinping came up to Beijing after a long period of time in the provinces. The two of them earned Xi's trust as deeply as Miao did.

Guizhou Province secretary Zhao Kezhi and vice-secretary Chen Min'er, who are known as Xi's long-time allies, were appointed secretary of Hebei Province and secretary of Guizhou Province, respectively. In particular, Mr. Chen is known to be one of Xi's most trusted secretaries, as he is expected to transfer to higher position further.

In view of the circumstances, Xi will likely to continue to fill key positions with his allies across the Communist Party, government, and the military. As of now, Li Zhanshu, director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China, and Wang Huning, director of the Policy Research Office, are expected to be appointed party secretary of Beijing and party secretary of Shanghai, respectively.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been filling up key positions with his allies since he got into power in 2012. And it seems clear that he will continue to pay attention to his own men.