Peter W. Humphrey
Peter W. Humphrey's comment and breakdown: "Chinese dictator Xi Jinping is evidently extending his purge of China's armed forces into its defence industry. Beijing has removed three senior leaders of military state-owned enterprises from a top political advisory body, per FT, signalling President Xi Jinping’s tightening control of the armed forces.
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a government advisory group under the ruling Chinese Communist party, has revoked the memberships of Liu Shiquan, chair of weapons manufacturer China North Industries Group, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp chair Wu Yansheng and China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp executive Wang Changqing, according to state media.
Xi this year embarked on a sweeping overhaul of China’s military at a time when the US and its allies have increasingly opposed Beijing’s military threats towards Taiwan and in disputed territories in the South China Sea.
In October, Beijing officially removed Li Shangfu as defence minister and cabinet member, almost two months after he disappeared from public view.
The Financial Times previously reported that US officials believe Li is under investigation for corruption. Li was the second cabinet minister to be ousted this year, after Qin Gang, Xi’s former foreign minister, was replaced by his predecessor Wang Yi in July following a month-long absence from public commitments.
The removal of Liu, Wu and Wang from the CPPCC also comes about six months after the disappearance of several top officers of the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force, which oversees the country’s nuclear and conventional missile arsenals. At the time, foreign experts and intelligence officials told the FT that the reshuffle was part of a drive to crack down on corruption and enforce Communist party discipline. No further details were given about the fate of the three SOE executives.
Such public announcements in China of official dismissals have in the past preceded detentions and investigations relating to corruption."