BEIJING — Chinese officials have expelled 19 members from the country’s national legislature just seven days before the body’s yearly session is scheduled to begin.
Thursday evening’s announcement provided no explanation for why the representatives were dismissed, though such actions typically stem from corruption probes.
President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption initiative continues more than ten years after its launch, with military leadership facing increased scrutiny in recent years. This includes last month’s dismissal of the military’s highest-ranking general, as Xi works to overhaul and update the nation’s armed forces.
Political experts suggest the crackdown also serves as a method for Xi, now in his fourteenth year leading the country, to eliminate possible challengers and secure loyalty from those under his command.
The expulsions are unlikely to significantly affect the National People’s Congress session, which begins next Thursday and typically lasts one week. The mostly symbolic legislative body routinely approves decisions already made by the governing Communist Party.
Among the dismissed military personnel are two serving under the Central Military Commission, the armed forces’ top governing body, plus representatives from the army, navy, air force, and rocket force divisions. Three hold general rank. The rocket force, responsible for China’s nuclear weapons program, has been a primary focus of military purges.
The remaining expelled members were regional delegates representing various provinces. These dismissals bring the National People’s Congress membership down to 2,878.
The legislature’s Standing Committee, a smaller but more influential group that convenes regularly throughout the year and has legislative approval authority, announced the removals.
During its pre-congress meeting, the Standing Committee also dismissed two additional officials: the military court president and Emergency Management Minister Wang Xiangxi. Officials revealed last month that Wang faces corruption charges.
