Beijing Votes Out Three High-Ranking Generals from Top Political Advisory Body Amidst Escalating Military Anti-Corruption Purge

Beijing votes to remove three retired generals from its top political advisory body as Xi Jinping escalates a massive anti-corruption purge within the military.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 4:43 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Channel News Asia

A Calculated Purge Ahead of the "Two Sessions"

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s highest political advisory body, has formally voted to remove three high-ranking retired generals from its Standing Committee. The decision, announced by state media on March 2, 2026, targeted Han Weiguo, Liu Lei, and Gao Jin. While the CPPCC did not specify a reason for the removals, the timing is seen as a strategic move to "clean house" ahead of the annual "Two Sessions" political conclave. This week-long event, which gathers thousands of delegates from across the nation, includes simultaneous meetings of the CPPCC and the National People's Congress (NPC). The removal of these senior figures signals that President Xi Jinping’s drive to eliminate corruption within the military ranks remains a top priority for the administration.

Deepening Tensions Within the Military Elite

The ousting of Han, Liu, and Gao is only the latest development in a broader crackdown on the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Just days prior to this vote, the NPC removed 19 of its delegates, including nine high-level military officials. Among those purged were the Minister of Emergency Management, Wang Xiangxi, and the head of the PLA's military court, Liu Shaoyun. This series of removals suggests a deepening institutional crisis within the military hierarchy. Analysts from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) have characterized these events as some of the most significant purges in the history of the PLA, noting that the Central Military Commission (CMC) the body that oversees the armed forces has been left with only one general out of its usual six.

The Focus on Top-Level Accountability

President Xi Jinping’s anti-graft campaign, which has been a hallmark of his tenure for over a decade, has increasingly turned its focus toward the highest reaches of military power. In February 2026, Xi publicly hailed the military's "fight against corruption," a rare acknowledgement of the pervasive nature of the problem. Shortly thereafter, the Ministry of Defense confirmed it was investigating Zhang Youxia, a vice chairman of the CMC, and Liu Zhenli, the chief of staff of the CMC’s joint staff department. These investigations into men responsible for combat planning and high-level strategy highlight the scale of the "cleansing" process, which seeks to ens...