China removes 6 generals from legislature in anti-corruption push

China's National People's Congress Standing Committee announced late Friday the removal of 13 members from the country's top legislative body, including six senior generals from the People's Liberation Army. This move confirms that President Xi Jinping's military anti-corruption campaign remains active and far from winding down. The removed officers span key commands—one from the Central Military Commission's Equipment Development Department and another from the Eastern Theatre Command—suggesting the probe reaches high operational levels. In addition to the military personnel, former Xinjiang Communist Party chief and a senior financial regulator were also stripped of their status, broadening the scope of the purge beyond the armed forces.

The case of General Xu Xueqiang, who missed a major party meeting in October, and Lieutenant General Wang Kangping, who attended but was passed over for a Central Committee promotion, had already raised speculation of their downfall. The latest announcement publicly confirms their exclusion from the legislature. Analysts see this as a signal that Xi's anti-corruption drive, which has targeted both civilian and military officials, will continue to hold senior officers accountable. The removals may also reshape the leadership dynamics within the PLA ahead of the next major party congress, as Xi consolidates control over the military apparatus.