Peking modernizing brings a new chief to the Navy

China named a new Navy chief Tuesday in what Western diplomatic sources described as a further attempt to modernize its armed forces.

The New China News Agency announced the appointment of Liu Huaqing in a report on Peking celebrations to mark last week's successful Chinese test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. Mr. Liu, a rear admiral until China abolished military ranks in 1965, replaces Yeh Fei, who was known to have been in poor health.