The leader of the Chinese regime, Xi Jinping, continues to consolidate his absolute control over the Armed Forces. On the eve of the so-called "two sessions" in Beijing, the National People's Congress of China excluded nine senior military commanders from its list of delegates, in a new sign of internal purging within the military apparatus.
The measure affects five generals, a lieutenant general and three major generals linked to recent investigations or reassignments within the structure of the People's Liberation Army. The authorities did not offer detailed explanations, limiting themselves to stating that these changes usually respond to status adjustments or disciplinary processes.
Key figures removed
Among the officers removed are Li Wei, political commissar of the Information Support Force, and Li Qiaoming, commander of the ground forces. The former Navy commander Shen Jinlong, former naval political commissar Qin Shengxiang, and former Air Force political commissar Yu Zhongfu were also excluded.
The list also includes Lieutenant General Wang Donghai and Major Generals Bian Ruifeng, Ding Laifu, and Yang Guang. With these departures, the number of military delegates in the Congress was reduced to 243.
Political control and internal discipline
The purge is taking place in a context of growing scrutiny within the military leadership. In recent weeks, investigations into other senior commanders, including Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, have come to light, which reinforces the perception that Xi seeks to eliminate pockets of autonomous power and strengthen absolute loyalty to the Communist Party.
