"CMSI Note 23: Vice Admiral Zhang Zheng Likely at the Helm" - by CWP alum Andrew Erickson
Key Takeaways:
- Vice Admiral (VADM) Zhang Zheng (张峥) appears to have been promoted to the most senior billet in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN). He seems to have taken up this responsibility as early as December 2025.
- An experienced surface warfare officer, with prior service as the captain of the PLAN’s first aircraft carrier, Liaoning (辽宁舰), as well as commander of the Shandong aircraft carrier battle group (山东航母编队), VADM Zhang is well prepared to lead the PLAN in the “era of three aircraft carriers” (三航母时代).
- Zhang’s wide-ranging experience across the East Sea Fleet (东海舰队); his professional military education in the United Kingdom (UK); and his service with distinction in the North Sea Fleet (北海舰队), in PLAN Headquarters, and in a joint billet in the Southern Theater Command (南部战区) makes him a well-rounded leader—vital in today’s comprehensive PLAN.
- Zhang’s lack of previous major political experience (i.e., neither as a member of a Delegation of the PLA and People’s Armed Police to the National People’s Congress (全 国人大解放军和武警部队代表团) nor of the CCP’s Central Committee (中央委员) or Alternate Member to the Central Committee (中央候补委员)) does not appear to have hindered his upward trajectory.
Dr. Andrew S. Erickson (艾立信) is Professor of Strategy (tenured full professor) in NWC’s China Maritime Studies Institute. A core founding member, he helped establish CMSI and stand it up officially in 2006 and has played an integral role in its development; from 2021–23 he served as Research Director. CMSI inspired the creation of other Department of Defense research centers, which he has advised and supported; he is a China Aerospace Studies Institute Associate. Erickson has taught courses at NWC and Yonsei University, advises NWC student research and curricula, and supports NWC’s scholarly research relations with Japanese counterparts. He provides flag officer tailored education for NWC, both on and off campus; including in Honolulu, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Naples.
Photo Credit: https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1022&context=cmsi-notes
