Beijing, 3 March: China’s top political advisory body has expelled three retired senior military officers ahead of the country’s most important annual political meetings, deepening an ongoing shake-up within the armed forces.
The decision was approved by the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which voted to remove former People’s Liberation Army (PLA) ground force commander Han Weiguo, former army political commissar Liu Lei, and former Strategic Support Force chief Gao Jin from its ranks. Authorities did not provide reasons for the move.
The removals come just days before nearly 3,000 delegates convene in Beijing for the annual “Two Sessions,” which bring together the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature. While the CPPCC serves in an advisory capacity without legislative power, its membership is considered politically significant, typically lasting for five-year terms set to expire in 2028. Mid-term dismissals are uncommon.
Senior Figures Ousted
Han, 70, led the PLA ground forces from 2017 until his retirement in 2021. Liu Lei, also 70, served as the army’s top political commissar from 2015 to 2022, overseeing ideological and party discipline work within the force. Gao, 67, was the inaugural commander of the Strategic Support Force when it was created in 2015 as part of sweeping military reforms. He later headed the Central Military Commission’s Logistic Support Department before retiring in 2022.
In a separate decision, Zhang Kejian, a senior official in the defense industry sector, was also removed from the advisory body. He is currently under investigation for alleged corruption.
Intensifying Military Clean-Up
The latest expulsions follow a string of high-profile dismissals within China’s military establishment. Authorities last week announced the removal of 19 officials, including nine linked to the armed forces. Several senior officers are reportedly under investigation for what officials describe as “serious violations of discipline and law,” the standard phrase used in corruption and misconduct probes.
President Xi Jinping has overseen a broad anti-corruption campaign since taking office in 2012, targeting officials across the party, government, and military. While Beijing maintains that the campaign is aimed at strengthening governance and discipline, some analysts argue it also consolidates political control within key institutions.
Political Timing
The timing of the expulsions — immediately before the Two Sessions — underscores the sensitivity of military discipline and political loyalty ahead of the high-profile gathering. The annual meetings are closely watched for policy direction and personnel signals, even though the outcomes are largely pre-determined.
Though no formal explanation has been provided for the three generals’ removal, the decision adds to signs that scrutiny within China’s military ranks is intensifying, particularly among retired or former senior leaders once seen as influential within the PLA hierarchy.
