Three Chinese lawmakers with ties to the nation’s defence sector have been removed from office, state media reported on Wednesday. The dismissals follow an ongoing investigation into General Zhang Youxia, the second-highest-ranking officer in China’s military, over alleged “serious violations of discipline and law.”
State media did not clarify if the lawmakers were under investigation themselves. They are from the defence, aerospace, and nuclear industries, central to Beijing’s ongoing military modernisation drive.
High-Profile Figures Affected
The sacked officials include:
- Zhou Xinmin, former head of Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC), responsible for most Chinese military aircraft and drones;
- Liu Cangli, a longstanding nuclear-weapons researcher and former head of the China Academy of Engineering Physics;
- Luo Qi, chief engineer at China National Nuclear Corp.
Zhou was appointed AVIC chairman in March 2024, but his name has been removed from the company website. The day prior to his dismissal, AVIC reportedly held an anti-corruption meeting.
Impact on Military Modernisation
The removals come a month before the National People’s Congress (NPC) convenes, marking the start of a new five-year planning cycle for the Communist Party. President Xi Jinping aims for “full military modernisation” by 2035, although the Pentagon has warned that corruption could hinder progress.
The investigation into Zhang Youxia, considered a key Xi ally, has also reduced US access to a well-known Chinese military contact, complicating efforts to manage US–China military relations.
Anti-Corruption Campaign Continues
Zhou’s predecessor at AVIC, Tan Ruisong, was expelled from the party for corruption in February 2025. Liu, who led nuclear weapons research for nearly a decade, has also been scrutinised in Xi’s years-long anti-corruption campaign.
The dismissals highlight Xi’s focus on consolidating control over the military while pushing forward with high-tech defence initiatives, from aerospace to nuclear capabilities.
with inputs from Reuters
