Dec 12, 1973:?Mao Zedong proposes a policy of rotating commanders-in-chief of major military regions at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee

On December 12, 1973, Mao Zedong proposed a policy of rotating?commanders-in-chief of major military regions at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He also suggested that Deng Xiaoping should be appointed a member of the Political Bureau, a member of the Central Military Commission and the chief of the general staff of the PLA.

On December 22, the Central Military Commission issued an order to rotate commanders-in-chief of the eight military regions. On the same day, the CPC Central Committee issued a notice about Deng's appointments.