Special to WorldTribune.com

By Willy Lam, East-Asia-Intel.com

Gen. Zhang Qinsheng figures in all Western military analysts’ lists for up-and-coming People’s Liberation Army (PLA) officers who will likely receive a big promotion at the 18th Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Congress slated for this October.

Zhang, 63, who is first deputy chief of the General Staff Department — the nerve center of the world’s second-most powerful fighting force — is tipped to be elevated either chief of the General Staff or defense minister.

However, rumors hitting Chinese cyberspace since last month have claimed that he had been “disciplined” by the Central Military Commission (CMC) for spreading ideas such as that the PLA should be a “national army” and not a “Party army” that only serves the interests of the CCP.

The speculation and innuendo were at least partially quashed when Zhang made an appearance at the on-going plenary session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) or legislature.

When asked by Hong Kong media about reports relating to his supposed disgrace, Zhang gave this cryptic answer: “Let’s not talk about these things.”

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  18th Chinese Communist Party Congress, Central Military Commission, General Staff Department, National People’s Congress, People’s Liberation Army, The plot thickens concerning fate of top military strategist Gen. Zhang Qinsheng