(Feb 26): China removed nine military lawmakers from its national parliament in the latest sign that President Xi Jinping’s purge of key defence establishment personnel continues to widen.
The country’s top legislative body revoked the membership of Ground Force Commander Li Qiaoming and Information Support Force Political Commissar Li Wei, along with seven other military officials, during their two-day meeting this week, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday citing a notice from the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.
The dismissals from the 14th National People’s Congress include Ground Force’s Ding Laifu; Central Military Commission’s Bian Ruifeng and Wang Donghai; Navy’s Shen Jinlong and Qin Shengxiang; Air Force’s Yu Zhongfu; and Rocket Force’s Yang Guang, according to the report, which didn’t provide reasons for the removals.
The removals come just a few weeks after Xi’s move to probe his top general and one-time ally, Zhang Youxia. The investigation marked the most stunning development yet in China’s biggest military purge in roughly half a century. Beijing hasn’t given an official reason for the investigations beyond saying the men are suspected of “serious discipline and law violations”.
The Chinese leader began his campaign to root out corruption in the armed forced in mid-2023, months after securing a precedent defying third term. Since then, two vice military chairs, three CMC members, a former defence minister, along with at least a dozen of senior generals who oversaw military commands have been ousted.
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