The exclusion of three former PLA commanders from the CPPCC advisory body indicates a widening probe into the Chinese military’s senior ranks.
The Chinese government has initiated a sweeping removal of senior military figures from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) just forty-eight hours before its annual plenary session. Retired generals Han Weiguo, Gao Jin, and Liu Lei were stripped of their advisory roles following a formal vote on Monday. These individuals commanded crucial sectors of the military, including the ground forces and the now-dissolved Strategic Support Force, during their active careers.
The timing of these removals is significant, as it breaks the traditional five-year service cycle for delegates. Alongside the generals, Zhang Kejian, a high-ranking official in the defense industry, was also dismissed amid a corruption investigation. These actions are part of a broader trend; last week, 19 officials were sacked in a single day, indicating that the anti-graft campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping in 2012 remains in a highly active and aggressive phase.
“The meetings begin tomorrow and will run for about a week… delegates and NPC typically serve out their five-year terms, which makes these mid-term removals unusual.”
While the CPPCC itself lacks legislative power, it serves as a critical barometer for political standing within the Chinese Communist Party. The removal of these veterans suggests that the ongoing investigations into the People’s Liberation Army are uncovering deep-seated issues that the leadership feels must be addressed before the public display of the annual legislative meetings. The move ensures that the “Two Sessions” will proceed with a reshuffled deck of participants, aligned with the current administration’s rigorous standards of loyalty.
SOURCES: CCTV State Television, Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Records, BBC Monitoring Reports.
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