政委 (zhèngwěi): political commissar

The 政治委员 (political commissar) system in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) was modeled on the Soviet Red Army. In each PLA unit, the military commander (军事主官) is paired with a political commissar (政委) of equal rank. The 政委 oversees ideological education, party loyalty, and personnel decisions — a structural feature of communist armed forces.

culture

Recurring character role in Chinese war films and TV dramas — most famously the 政委 figure in 《亮剑》 (Drawing Sword, 2005) and earlier classics like 《红色娘子军》 (The Red Detachment of Women).