China has dismissed two high-ranking military officers from the Central Military Commission (CMC) as part of ongoing investigations into serious breaches of discipline and law. This action is a significant addition to President Xi Jinping’s extensive anti-corruption campaign, which has targeted various sectors including the military, Communist Party, government, and state-owned enterprises since he assumed leadership in 2012.
Zhao’s Removal from Key Political Roles Raises Questions
Zhao has been removed from his membership in the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and has lost two other significant positions. The decision was confirmed recently, but Beijing has not disclosed the reasons behind these actions or indicated whether an investigation is underway regarding his conduct.
The Chinese military has been a major focus of Xi’s anti-corruption drive. The campaign has led to the investigation, removal and expulsion of dozens of senior military officials and generals over the years. Last month, Xi called on senior Communist Party leaders to step up efforts to tackle corruption within the armed forces, underlining his continued focus on the issue. China maintains separate Communist Party and state Central Military Commissions, but both operate as a single institution. Friday’s announcement by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress relates to Zhang and Liu’s positions in the state CMC.
The two generals were also among 12 lawmakers whose names were removed from an updated list of deputies published by the National People’s Congress on Friday, indicating that they had formally lost their seats, Reuters reported. Zhang illegally accepted more than 55 million yuan ($8.15 million) between 2008 and 2025 while working at the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), as well as after his retirement, according to the first-instance verdict cited by Xinhua.
The removal of CMC Vice-Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC member Liu Zhenli leaves only two active members on what was previously a seven-member commission, including Xi Jinping, according to state news agency Xinhua.
