China Removes 19 Officials Before Key Political Meeting
By Global Leaders Insights Team | Feb 27, 2026
China has removed 19 officials, including nine senior military figures, from its list of national lawmakers days before its annual Two Sessions meetings.
The decision was announced by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China’s top legislative body. No reason was given. The move comes amid President Xi Jinping’s ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
Those removed include Li Qiaoming, commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force, and Shen Jinlong, a former PLA Navy commander. Several other military officers were also dismissed, along with provincial officials including Sun Shaochong, the former party chief of Inner Mongolia.
- China removes 19 officials ahead of annual Two Sessions meetings
- Senior PLA commanders dismissed amid Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive
- NPC announcement signals fresh political and military shake-up in Beijing
The announcement follows the recent removal of Zhang Youxia, a senior general and former close ally of Xi. He was accused of “serious violations of discipline and law,” a term commonly used in China for corruption.
Since taking power in 2013, Xi has led a sweeping military purge targeting senior and junior officials under the “tigers and flies” campaign. The government says the effort is meant to strengthen party discipline, while critics say it has also been used to remove rivals within the Chinese Communist Party.
In October 2025, nine top generals were removed in a similar crackdown. Authorities said those dismissals were part of a broader PLA crackdown.
The removals come ahead of the NPC annual meeting, part of China’s key political gathering in Beijing. Thousands of delegates are expected to attend from March 4 to 11. The meetings will set economic targets and outline policy plans, including goals under China’s five-year development framework.
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The latest dismissals highlight continued changes within China’s political and military leadership before the major policy sessions.
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