China Abruptly Swaps South China Sea Commander as Tensions Rise
- US has warned Beijing over recent clashes in disputed waters
- President Xi’s military has been rocked by purges in past year
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China installed a new army commander for its southern region, an unexpected move that comes after recent clashes in the South China Sea inflamed tensions with the US and its allies.
General Wu Yanan has been appointed to head the Southern Theater Command, a Chinese state media report revealed Wednesday by referring to him by that title. Wu, born in Aug 1962, has experience in the ground forces and previously served as commander of the Central Theater Command responsible for defending Beijing.