Overview
- China’s top advisory body, the CPPCC, voted to strip Han Weiguo, Gao Jin and Liu Lei of membership and committee roles, with no reasons disclosed.
- Han’s removal was the first official confirmation of his downfall; he previously commanded the PLA Ground Force, while Gao led the Strategic Support Force and Liu served as the army’s political commissar.
- The vote followed a separate NPC decision last week to remove 19 delegates, including nine from the military, and the CPPCC also ousted additional members such as defence-industry figure Zhang Kejian.
- At the opening of the Two Sessions on March 4, Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia was absent as he remains under investigation, with reporting noting the CMC now effectively consists of Xi Jinping and newly promoted Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin.
- Analysts say the breadth of vacancies and investigations in senior ranks points to a deepening purge and could complicate near-term military planning, even as authorities have offered no public explanations for the dismissals.