Beijing: China's top lawmakers are convening an emergency session of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) in Beijing to address pressing issues amid an ongoing investigation into two of the country's senior military generals. The session, initially scheduled for later this month, has been moved up to Wednesday, sparking speculation about the potential deliberation over the fates of Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
According to Anadolu Agency, the investigation into Generals Zhang and Liu, members of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Military Commission (CMC), was announced on January 24 and involves allegations of 'suspected serious discipline and law violations.' This investigation has drawn significant attention as it leaves the CMC with only two active members, including President Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, who is the secretary of the commission's discipline inspection body. This follows the recent removal of three other CMC members, Gen. He Weidong, Gen. Li Shangfu, and Admiral Miao Hua, as part of a broader crackdown.
The CMC, formed in 2023 at the beginning of Xi Jinping's third term, has seen significant upheaval. At the start of 2023, The New York Times reported that China had at least 30 generals and admirals leading various departments and theater commands within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). However, 'nearly all of them' have been either expelled or have disappeared over the past three years, leaving only seven generals or admirals in active roles as of the report's publication on Tuesday. These include Defense Minister Dong Jun and several commanders assigned to Eastern and Central Theaters, Army, and Air Force.
The NPC Observer, an independent platform that translates official Chinese developments, noted that this is the second emergency session of the 14th NPCSC, following a similar meeting in July 2023 to replace China's foreign minister, Qin Gang. The urgency of this session underscores the gravity of the situation, as highlighted by a recent editorial in the PLA Daily, the Chinese military's official media. The editorial emphasized that addressing corruption within the military, particularly involving generals like Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, is crucial for eliminating weakened combat capabilities and removing obstacles to the country's development.
The proposed agenda for the NPCSC session includes reviewing a report on NPC deputy qualifications, but the focus remains on the ongoing investigations and their implications for China's military leadership and governance.