China, under Xi Jinping, has revoked the political advisory seats of three Generals, two of whom held key positions in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The move is seen as part of Xi’s anti-corruption drive within the PLA and in the Chinese defence industry.
The suspension of the three Generals came close on the heels of a report by American think tank CSIS China Project that had projected that the PLA sackings go much deeper than earlier known and could have a crippling effect on the future leadership of the fighting force.
Among the latest set of Generals removed were Han Weiguo, Gao Jin, and Liu Lei. They were removed from membership of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC) and their respective roles in its Standing Committee and relevant special committees, the political advisory body said on Monday (March 2, 2026).
The authorities did not explain the removals, but such adjustments often relate to changes in status, investigations, or political disgrace.
Only last week, Xi had sacked nine military officials, who were part of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s highest legislative body.
The official announcement provided the first confirmation of the downfall of Han, who had previously served as the PLA Ground Force commander from August 2027 to June 2021.
Han was also appointed as the first commander of the Central Theatre Command when it was set up in 2016.
In that capacity, Han had directed the high-profile Zhurihe military parade in July 2017, shortly before his promotion. This parade was the first of its kind at the occupied Inner Mongolia military training ground, to mark the 90th anniversary that year.
Gao was the first commander of the now-disbanded Strategic Support Force, which was created in 2016 as the PLA’s first division to oversee the military’s space, cyber, electromagnetic, and psychological warfare.
Between 1999 and 2022, Gao was the head of the Central Military Commission’s Logistical Support Department, where he was responsible for the PLA’s logistics and critical resources, including barracks, housing, supplies, and medical facilities.
Liu was political commissar of the PLA Ground Force from 2015 to 2022, while he gained military career and expertise in the country’s northwestern provinces, holding positions such as the political commissar across Gansu, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang (occupied East Turkestan).
Xi also removed Zhang Kejian, a senior Chinese defence industry and military research figure, from the CPPCC. Zhang, a former director at the State Administration of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defence, was under investigation for the past year.
He reportedly surrendered over corruption charges in May 2025. But his formal removal from the CPPCC was finalised and announced this week, as the body’s National Committee convened to review memberships ahead of the annual session later this week.
The NPC and CPPCC annual sessions are among Beijing’s most important political meetings. While the CPPCC session started on Wednesday (March 4, 2026), the NPC would open on Thursday (March 5, 2026).
The NPC has disqualified five full generals, one lieutenant general, and three major generals as delegates to the annual session this time.
The disqualifications came after a string of high-profile cases involving the military leadership, including the previous investigations into Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
Zhang is the former vice-chairman of the powerful Central Military Commission, while Liu was chief of its Joint Staff Department.