Chairman Mao's grandson may become youngest major general

Mao Xinyu, the only grandson of Chairman Mao Zedong may be promoted and become China's youngest major general by Army Day on August 1 next year.

Joining the army for nine years, Mao said according to the army rules anyone in the army for 10 years can be entitled to pursue the major general rank.

"If there is no exception, I could be granted the rank as early as next August," Mao said on the weekend during an interview with the Yangcheng Evening News, a newspaper based in Guangzhou.

The only child of Mao Anqing, the late Chairman Mao's second son, Mao Xinyu was born in 1970 and studied history at Renmin University of China. He earned a PhD at the Academy of Military of Sciences. He now serves as the academy's vice director of the war theory and strategic studies department and is also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

He feels that upholding Mao Zedong Thought is his duty and has authored a number of books, including the award-winning My Grandfather Mao Zedong.

He also added he will propose the idea of making his grandfather's birthday and the day of his death a legal holiday at next year's annual session of the CPPCC.

Mao said he will also be in Tiananmen Square on October 1 to watch the National Day parade.

Source:Global Times