BEIJING โ Xu Qiliang, a notable figure within Chinaโs military hierarchy and a retired general of the air force, passed away at the age of 75, as confirmed by the Defense Ministry. He was known to be a close associate of Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
During the initial years of Xiโs leadership, Xu served as a vice commissioner for the body that governs the Peopleโs Liberation Army, which is the military segment under Chinaโs ruling Communist Party. At that time, Xi was transforming the military to incorporate more representation from both the army and navy in leadership roles, traditionally led by land forces.
A statement from the ministry described Xu as an โoutstanding member of the Communist Party of China, a committed and time-tested communist soldier, a military strategist belonging to the proletarian class, and a distinguished leader of the Peopleโs Liberation Army.โ
Xu joined the Peopleโs Liberation Army in 1966, at the onset of the tumultuous Cultural Revolution orchestrated by Mao Zedong, the founder of Communist China. Xu rose through the military ranks to wield significant influence as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. He maintained his high-standing reputation without getting implicated in the anti-corruption campaigns that have affected several retired and active military leaders, including two previous defense ministers. Despite speculation about corruption or espionage for the U.S., China has not provided information on the situation, fuelling rumors of an extensive internal reshuffle.
Without engagement in a major conflict since the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, Xu managed to advance his career by staunchly supporting the partyโs directives and loyalty to the central leadership, paralleling the leadership model currently under Xi, who chairs the Central Military Commission. As reported by Xinhua News Agency in February 2018, Xu underscored the importance of understanding and implementing the directives from the 19th Party National Congress and Xi Jinpingโs military-strengthening strategies.
Xu played a crucial role in modernizing the Peopleโs Liberation Army, facilitating its transition from utilizing outdated Cold War jets to incorporating latest-generation stealth fighters and nuclear-capable bombers. Xu also engaged in international military diplomacy, hosting foreign officials, including the former U.S. Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, in 2018. These discussions emphasized the need for meaningful military-to-military interactions to diminish risks and strategic uncertainties. Since then, however, both military and broader diplomatic relations have deteriorated.