China has removed two top generals, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from its supreme military command body, the Central Military Commission (CMC). The move comes amid investigations into suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Zhang was the second-in-command under President Xi Jinping as vice-chairman of the CMC and a member of China's elite Politburo. Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department.
The removal of Zhang and Liu leaves just two active members on the formerly seven-member commission, including President Xi Jinping. The military has been one of the main targets of a broader anti-corruption crackdown launched by Xi in 2012. Last month, Xi urged senior leaders of the ruling Communist Party to intensify the fight against corruption in the military. The years-long campaign has seen scores of senior officials and top generals investigated and removed from office.
China has parallel Communist Party and state CMC structures, although they effectively function as a single institution. The announcement by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress concerned Zhang and Liu's positions on the state CMC. At the time of the announcement, they had not been formally or publicly stripped of their posts on the Central Military Commission of the ruling Communist Party.
Zhang and Liu's names were also removed from an updated list of deputies published by China's parliament, the National People's Congress (NPC). This indicates that they had officially lost their seats along with 10 other lawmakers. Among them were Lieutenant General Zhong Shaojun, former director of the CMC General Office, and General Ju Qiansheng, former commander of the military's Strategic Support Force.
The list also included Gao Shiwen, former mayor of the southern Chinese city of Nanchang, who previously worked at state-owned aerospace and defence giant China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Separately, China's top political advisory body on Wednesday stripped Zhao Zongqi, a former commander of the Western Theatre Command during the 2020 China-India border clashes, of his membership.
The removals come as China continues to intensify its fight against corruption in the military. The campaign has seen numerous high-profile cases, including the investigation of former defence minister Fan Changlong. The moves are seen as part of President Xi Jinping's efforts to consolidate power and strengthen the Communist Party's control over the military.
The Central Military Commission is the highest decision-making body for China's military. The commission is responsible for overseeing the country's armed forces and setting military policy. The removal of Zhang and Liu is likely to have significant implications for China's military leadership and could lead to further changes in the country's defence establishment.
Key points
- China has removed two top generals from its supreme military command body amid investigations into suspected serious violations of discipline and law.
- The removals are part of President Xi Jinping's broader anti-corruption crackdown in the military, which has seen numerous high-profile cases.
- The moves are seen as part of President Xi Jinping's efforts to consolidate power and strengthen the Communist Party's control over the military.
