Princeling Generals in China: Breaking the Two Career Barriers?

Abstract

The term ”princeling generals” in China refers to those military officers with the rank of major general and above who are the descendants of high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) military and civilian leaders of the first generation. Until very recently, these princeling generals were faced with two major barriers in their military and political careers: Many of them ended their military career in deputy positions, and very few of them ever entered the CCP Central Committee. A new cohort of princeling generals has emerged recently. A few elite members of the cohort have broken through the first barrier and moved into positions as heads of military regions or their equivalent in the People`s Liberation Army (PLA). Some of them are also likely to break the second barrier and enter the 17th Central Committee in 2007.