President Xi Jinping has appointed General Zhang Xudong as head of the Western Theatre Command (WTC), to replace Gen Zhao Zongqi, who is retiring. Zhang was the second-in-command in the Central Theatre Command, which is responsible for the security of Beijing. As commander of the WTC, Gen Zhang will oversee the People's Liberation Army ground force, air force and rocket force, besides other elements in the Tibet and Xinjiang regions. According to military insiders and experts, Xi's decision to appoint Gen. Zhang as commander for the WTC is unlikely to impact the situation in Ladakh. Indian security experts describe it as a "routine" matter, which comes at a time when the situation in Ladakh has stabilised to the extent that both India and China are staying put through the winter. The experts say the winter will serve as a window for Zhang to grasp the situation at the border as he takes on the new role. Meanwhile, Gen Zhao had served as the WTC commander since it was formed in February 2016 as part of Xi's military reforms that brought seven military regions into five integrated commands.
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