The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body with 2,858 members, confirmed Saturday that 13 deputies were expelled, among them six senior military generals. One of those removed was Xu Xueqiang, head of equipment development at the powerful Central Military Commission.
No official reasons were disclosed for the expulsions, though the NPC has previously announced similar removals ahead of its annual sessions. In February, several military officials were dismissed in a comparable move.
Separately, China’s anti-corruption watchdog revealed that He Qiliang, deputy minister of the Central Administration for Social Work, is under investigation for “serious violations of law.” The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission said he is facing disciplinary review and supervisory inquiry.
President Xi Jinping, who also chairs the Central Military Commission, has waged a years-long anti-corruption campaign targeting senior military figures. Notable cases have included probes into Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, both former vice chairmen of the commission.
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The latest expulsions highlight Xi’s continued effort to consolidate control over the military and political elite, reinforcing the message that corruption and misconduct will not be tolerated within China’s ruling structures.