19 deputies of China’s legislature, including 9 military officers, removed before annual meeting

China Removes 19 Legislators, Including Military Officers, Ahead of Annual Congress

China’s National People’s Congress has dismissed 19 of its members, including nine military officers, just a week before the country’s annual legislative session is set to begin, according to an announcement made late Thursday.

While officials did not provide specific reasons for the removals, such actions typically signal corruption investigations—a pattern that has become familiar in Chinese politics. The dismissals affect high-ranking military personnel, including three generals and officers from various military branches.

Among those removed were two officers serving under the Central Military Commission, China’s top military authority directly overseen by President Xi Jinping. The purge also targeted officers from the army, navy, air force, and notably, the rocket force—the military branch responsible for managing China’s nuclear arsenal.

The rocket force has faced particular scrutiny in recent anti-corruption investigations. Last year, several senior officers from this strategic unit were removed in what analysts described as one of the most significant military shake-ups in years. The branch plays a critical role in China’s military modernization efforts and nuclear deterrence strategy.

These dismissals continue Xi’s decade-long anti-corruption campaign, which shows no signs of abating. Just last month, China removed its top general, Li Shangfu, from his position as defense minister after a brief tenure. Li’s dismissal came amid a broader pattern of unexplained disappearances and removals of senior military officials.

Political analysts view Xi’s anti-corruption drive as serving dual purposes: eliminating graft within government institutions while simultaneously removing potential political rivals and ensuring absolute loyalty throughout the Communist Party’s ranks. Now in his 14th year in power, Xi has consolidated authority to a degree not seen in China since the era of Mao Zedong.

Beyond military officers, the legislature also dismissed civilian representatives from several provinces. Additionally, the Standing Committee fired Wang Xiangxi, the Emergency Management Minister, who was publicly announced as the subject of a corruption investigation last month. The president of the military court was also removed from his position.

These removals reduce the National People’s Congress membership to 2,878 deputies. Despite these changes, the upcoming legislative session, scheduled to begin next Thursday, is expected to proceed as planned and last approximately one week.

The National People’s Congress serves largely as a ceremonial body that formally approves decisions already made by the ruling Communist Party leadership. Real legislative power rests with its Standing Committee—a smaller, more influential group that meets regularly throughout the year and possesses the authority to pass laws and make personnel changes, as demonstrated by Thursday’s dismissals.

The timing of these removals, just before the annual legislative gathering, suggests the leadership’s desire to present a unified front during what is one of China’s most visible political events of the year. The congress typically focuses on economic targets, budget approvals, and major policy directions for the coming year.

Xi’s ongoing military purges reflect his determination to transform China’s armed forces into a modern, disciplined fighting force loyal to the Communist Party. Since taking power, he has emphasized military modernization as a core national priority, while simultaneously rooting out what the party describes as corruption and disloyalty within military ranks.

As China faces growing international tensions and economic challenges, these internal political maneuvers highlight the leadership’s focus on maintaining stability and control within its political and military institutions.