China: Consolidating Control Over Military Might

China's communist leadership is in the final stages before a massive transition of power. But, in addition to the huge reshuffles among political cadres already underway across all but the highest levels of Chinese government, a transition in China's top military ranks has quietly been taking shape. At least Five of the 11 members of the Central Military Commission -- which oversees Chinese military affairs -- will step down, including one of the committee's two vice chairmen. As China undergoes a massive military reform aimed toward modernization, President Xi Jinping is engaged in the broadest effort to consolidate power over the military since the days of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping....