【10.8.2 印度快报】Mao's grandson becomes youngest General in China's army

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http://www.indianexpress.com/news/maos-grandson-becomes-youngest-general-in-chinas-army/654880/


Chairman Mao Zedong's grandson Mao Xinyu has been promoted to the rank of Major General from Senior Colonel, becoming the youngest General in the Chinese People's Liberation Army.


Though 40-year-old stocky and bulky Mao Xinyu was promoted few months ago, his elevation was announced yesterday in connection with the 83rd anniversary of the PLA, the world's largest standing army.


"This is a natural elevation. Mao's many achievements earned him the right to be promoted," Bao Guojun, a spokesman at the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS) told official media here.


The heavy-set somewhat bearing resemblances of his illustrious grandfather, whose hardline Marxian ideology has been diluted over the years as China transformed from socialist economy to that market economy, young Mao Xinyu (meaning 'New Universe') rose fast in the ranks of the PLA, with tacit backing of the ruling Communist Party leadership, which still holds Great Helmsman in high esteem.

Xinyu is the child of Mao's son Anqing, borne by his second wife Yang Kaihui. Anqing died in 2007 at the age of 84. Xinyu's mother Shao Hua also became a Major-General in the PLA in 1995.


It certainly helps to be a Mao's kin in China as Xinyu has two children, a boy and girl which was highly uncommon in a country which studiously follows one child policy.


Xinyu graduated in History from the Renmin University in 1992 and currently works as a researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences, where he also completed his Doctorate.


Among the several books he has written is a book titled Grandfather Mao Zedong (Yeye Mao Zedong).


There were murmurs of dissent last year when his elevation was reported with one newspaper Changjiang Daily commenting that he became a top General despite his obese figure.


Xinyu, however, appears to be the very model of a modern Major-General having his own blog, which was voted in 2008 by a Chinese newspaper as the country's most popular blogs where some of his nationalistic posturing, specially over Taiwan struck a chord with young Chinese.


"If the motherland's integrity was harmed, or country was invaded, we would definitely take action and launch strategic attacks and solve the Taiwan issue. The reality will once again prove that it is easier to rock the mountain than to rock Chinese people and the army," read one of his postings in his blog.


As Communist China moved fast on the road to market economy, dynasty politics appeared to be taking centre stage at various levels of governance in the country.

Vice President Xi Jinping who is expected to succeed President Hu Jintao in 2012 is the son of Xi Zhongxun, who was a contemporary communist party leader of Mao's and fought several revolutionary wars with him.