BEIJING, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- State-run media in China reported Wednesday that Hu Jintao, as the new chairman of the Central Military Commission, had the full backing of the armed forces.
Xinhua cited unidentified sources within the People's Liberation Army as saying it "firmly supported" Hu as chairman of the military commission, adding he "had won the trust of the whole Party, the whole army and the whole Chinese people."
The army praised former chairman Jiang Zemin for his contributions to the military, adding, "Jiang's resignation is a contribution of historic significance to the institutionalization of succession."
Xinhua described the leadership change as confirming "the fundamental principle and system of the Party's absolute leadership over the military," and said it was "conducive to the strengthening of the military's modernization and regularization process."
The Chinese military promised to support the authority and obey the orders of the Communist Party and of Hu Jintao as the new military commission chairman.
