The purge of key military figures led by Chinese President Xi Jinping is expanding further. China has dismissed nine military-affiliated deputies from the National People’s Congress (NPC), which functions as the country’s national legislature.
According to major local media outlets such as Xinhua News Agency and Ming Pao on February 27, five generals (equivalent to full general) of the People's Liberation Army, one lieutenant general, and three major generals have been stripped of their NPC delegate status. This measure comes ahead of the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on March 4 and the NPC on March 5, following the purge of Zhang Yusha, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the Joint Staff Department.
Ming Pao reported that the 21st meeting of the NPC Standing Committee was held the previous day, during which the qualifications of individual delegates were reviewed and proposals for appointments and dismissals of related personnel were deliberated.
At this meeting, the following five generals had their NPC delegate status revoked: Li Wei, Political Commissar of the Information Support Force under the People's Liberation Army; Li Chaoming, Army Commander; Shen Jinlong, Navy Commander; Qin Shengxiang, Navy Political Commissar; and Yu Zhongfu, Air Force Political Commissar. The same action was taken for Wang Donghai, Political Commissar of the National Defense Mobilization Department of the Central Military Commission (Lieutenant General), and Major Generals Bian Ruifeng of the Central Military Commission, Ding Laifu of the Army, and Yang Guang of the Rocket Force.
Generals Li Wei and Li Chaoming were members of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China in 2022, but did not appear at the 4th Plenary Session of the Central Committee held in October last year, leading to speculation that they were under investigation by the authorities.
Xinhua News Agency reported that these nine individuals lost their NPC delegate status in accordance with laws defining the rights, duties, and responsibilities of NPC and local people’s congress deputies. It is presumed that the 21st meeting of the NPC Standing Committee also reviewed the delegate status of Zhang Yusha and Liu Zhenli, but no related details were released.
From the left, Zhang Yuxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, and Liu Zhenli, Member of the Central Military Commission. Photo by Yonhap News Agency/EPA
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong reported that while the reasons for revoking the NPC delegate qualifications of these nine individuals were not disclosed, it is believed to be related to official investigations or changes in their status. As a result, the total number of NPC delegates representing the People’s Liberation Army and the Armed Police has decreased to 243.
The newspaper added, “This measure follows the announcement of investigations into Zhang Yusha and Liu Zhenli, demonstrating continued anti-corruption and discipline efforts within the People’s Liberation Army.”
Diplomatic observers believe that after the purge of Zhang Yusha and Liu Zhenli, Chinese authorities took this action to revoke the NPC delegate status of nine generals as part of President Xi Jinping’s efforts to build a loyalist leadership structure.
The NPC consists of approximately 3,000 deputies elected indirectly from 35 electoral units, including 31 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions, as well as the People’s Liberation Army (including the Armed Police) and the Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions. The term of office is five years.
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