In a move that has sent shockwaves through China's political and military circles, 19 members of the country's legislature, including nine high-ranking military officers, have been abruptly dismissed just one week before the annual National People's Congress. This dramatic development raises questions about the ongoing anti-corruption campaign led by President Xi Jinping, which has now been running for over a decade. But here's where it gets controversial: while the campaign is officially aimed at rooting out corruption, analysts suggest it may also serve as a strategic tool for Xi to consolidate power by eliminating potential rivals and ensuring unwavering loyalty among his subordinates. Is this a genuine crackdown on corruption, or a calculated power play?
The dismissals, announced late Thursday without specific reasons, are widely believed to be linked to corruption investigations—a pattern that has become all too familiar in Xi's tenure. Among those removed are two officers under the Central Military Commission, the military’s highest authority, as well as generals and officials from the army, navy, air force, and the rocket force, which oversees China’s nuclear arsenal. The rocket force, in particular, has been a recurring target of these purges, raising concerns about stability within this critical branch. And this is the part most people miss
