China's Xi moves to take more direct command over military

FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015 file photo, Chinese President Xi Jinping is displayed on a screen as Type 99A2 Chinese battle tanks take part in a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping is assuming a more direct role as commander of the country's powerful armed forces with the new title of commander in chief of its Joint Operations Command Center, as revealed in news reports run on Wednesday, April 20, and Thursday, April 21, 2016, in which he appeared publicly for the first time in camouflage battle dress wearing the center's insignia.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) (The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, April 21, 2016 image taken from a video footage run by China's CCTV via AP Video, Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, in military uniform gestures as he tours to the Chinese army’s Joint Operation Command Center in Beijing. Xi is assuming a more direct role as commander of the country's powerful armed forces with the new title of commander in chief of its Joint Operations Command Center. Xi's new position was revealed in news reports run on Wednesday and Thursday in which he appeared publicly for the first time in camouflage battle dress wearing the center's insignia. (CCTV via AP Video) CHINA OUT, TV OUT, NO SALES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY (The Associated Press)

In this Thursday, April 21, 2016 image taken from a video footage run by China's CCTV via AP Video, Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, in military uniform poses for a group photo with military staff members at the Chinese army’s Joint Operation Command Center in Beijing. Xi is assuming a more direct role as commander of the country's powerful armed forces with the new title of commander in chief of its Joint Operations Command Center. Xi's new position was revealed in news reports run on Wednesday and Thursday in which he appeared publicly for the first time in camouflage battle dress wearing the center's insignia. (CCTV via AP Video) CHINA OUT, TV OUT, NO SALES, EDITORIAL USE ONLY (The Associated Press)

Chinese President Xi Jinping is assuming a more direct role as commander of the country's powerful armed forces with the new title of commander in chief of its Joint Operations Command Center.

Xi's new position was revealed in news reports run on Wednesday and Thursday in which he appeared publicly for the first time in camouflage battle dress wearing the center's insignia.

Xi is already chairman of the Central Military Commission that oversees the 2.3-million-member People's Liberation Army, the world's largest standing armed forces. Among his several other titles, Xi is also leader of the ruling Communist Party and chair of a recently created National Security Council.

As head of the military, Xi has overseen a reorganization of the PLA's command structure aimed at improving integration among the different services.