Mao is youngest general

• Source: Global Times
• [01:09 August 02 2010]
• Comments

By Peng Pu

Mao Xinyu, the grandson of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, was promoted to the rank of major general, which makes him the youngest person in the People's Liberation Army to hold that rank presently.

Shortly before the 83rd Anniversary of the founding of the army, which was Sunday, Mao was among other young military officers who were promoted to higher ranks.

Bao Guojun, a spokesman at the Academy of Military Sciences (AMS), confirmed Sunday to the Global Times that Mao was promoted from the rank of senior colonel to major general.

The promotion was done before Sunday's Army Day but the specific date was not provided.

"This is a natural elevation. Mao's many achievements earned him the right to be promoted," he said.

Mao, born in 1970, is currently a researcher at AMS, where he also completed his doctorate.

He appears to be the very model of a modern major general and has his own Internet blog.

In a May 14 entry, he talked about his visit to North Korea, where he visited the tombs of Chinese volunteer army soldiers.

In his latest entry on June 26, he wrote about his uncle, Mao Anying, who died in North Korea during the Korean War.