Mao Xinyu becomes Major-General

Mao Xinyu (毛新宇), the PLA Academy of Military Sciences (AMS) Department of War Theory and Strategic Studies (中国人民解放军军事科学院战争理论和战略研究部) deputy director and a grandson of Mao Zedong, has been promoted to the rank of major general in the Chinese army, reports the Hindustan Times. Aged 40, he is reportedly one of the youngest officers presently holding the rank in the People’s Liberation Army, but Bao Guojun, a spokesman at the AMS who confirmed Mao’s promotion, explained that “this is a natural elevation. Mao’s many achievements earned him the right to be promoted.”

According to the BBC‘s website in Chinese, the government website of Guangyuan, a prefecture-level city in Sichuan province, first reported Mao’s promotion on Sunday, which is Army Day in China. Mao was promoted on an unspecified day before Sunday. Media reports about a promotion in September last year were later said to be “rumors”. AFP , quoting Changjiang Daily at the time, was one of the agencies who apparently reported Mao’s elevation prematurely. Mao Xinyu was later quoted by media as saying himself that he would become major general in July this year. In his capacity as a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), he appeared to be rather unwilling to talk with the press in March this year.

Mao Xinyu is the son of Mao Anqing (毛岸青), who in turn is said to be Mao Zedong’s last known surviving son. Mao Anqing’s mother was Yang Kaihui (杨开慧), Mao Zedong’s second wife, from 1920 to 1930.

Mao Anqing was a (Russian-speaking) translator and also a researcher with China’s Academy of Military Sciences, which gave him military rank and ensured his status and livelihood, according to the Independent‘s obituary of March 2007.