China's Ministry of National Defence Ministry announced on August 26, 2017, that General Li Zuocheng, Commander of the PLAA (Ground Forces) has been appointed Head of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), replacing General Fang Fenghui. He will oversee the People’s Liberation Army’s combat planning, strategy, logistics and training. Li Zuocheng is a 'hero' of the 1979 war against Vietnam.  

Separately, the Bowen Press reported on August 27, 2017, that 67-year General Zhang Youxia is likely to succeed Fan Changlong as Vice Chairman of the CMC.

Shu Guozeng, a native of Hangzhou who worked under Xi when he was party secretary of eastern China’s Zhejiang province, was recently appointed Head of Discipline Inspection at the General Office of the CCP’s Central Committee. As well as the Central Committee's General Office which reports directly to Xi Jinping, Shu Guozeng’s team will oversee other key bodies such as the General Office of the National Security Commission and the Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs. Shu Guozeng's appointment was revealed on August 23, after the Party’s anti-graft paper published his first article as the discipline investigator.