China removes two military lawmakers amid Xi Jinping's ongoing anti-corruption campaign

The Chinese government, under Xi Jinping, has abruptly removed two military lawmakers from Parliament, intensifying a sweeping purge within the nation’s defence leadership. The country’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, revoked the memberships of Mr. You Haitao and Vice Adm. Li Pengcheng during a meeting on Dec. 25, without providing an explanation.

Mr. You previously served as deputy commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force, while Vice Adm. Li commanded the Southern Theatre Command Navy, which oversees the contested South China Sea region. Vice Adm. Li’s predecessor, Vice Adm. Ju Xinchun, was ousted from Parliament last year, according to Bloomberg.

The legislative body said both men were suspected of violating laws and discipline, terminology commonly used by the Chinese Communist Party to indicate corruption.

The removals are the latest development in a far-reaching anti-corruption campaign that has targeted China’s military since 2023, including the PLA’s equipment procurement unit and the secretive Rocket Force.

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In November, a senior official from the Central Military Commission—China’s top military body led by President Xi Jinping— was suspended. Just days before the lawmakers’ removal, China named a new political commissar for the Ground Force on December 23, in another unexpected leadership shift.

The campaign spotlights the ongoing efforts by Xi to consolidate control and address alleged corruption within the military’s upper ranks.

How big is the corruption problem in the PLA?

Corruption within China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has reportedly been a critical issue.

According to Pentagon’s annual report on Beijing’s military, released earlier this month, it may have disrupted its progress towards China’s 2027 military modernisation goals.

These aims include accelerating the integration of intelligence, mechanisation and other tools while boosting the speed of modernisation in military theories, personnel, weapons and equipment.

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With inputs from agencies