Nine military officials expelled by China from its parliament in a sweeping reshuffle

In a significant reshuffle, China expelled nine military officials, including four generals from the strategic missile unit of the army, from its parliament. The move followed the appointment of Dong Jun as China’s new defence minister, ending months of vacancy in the key post. The reshuffle comes after the sudden dismissal of former Defence Minister Li Shangfu in October, who had disappeared from public view in August. The government did not provide an explanation for the removal of the military officials, but the move is part of a series of high-level restructuring initiatives in the military establishment.

The expelled military officials, who sat in parliament as non-elected representatives, were removed from the National People’s Congress. While the government did not disclose the reasons for their removal, there are speculations that these officials may be under investigation. The restructuring is evident in the leadership of China’s secretive Rocket Force, responsible for overseeing the country’s nuclear arsenal. The Rocket Force has witnessed changes following media reports of a corruption investigation involving its former chief.

The dismissal of the military officials coincides with the appointment of Dong Jun as the new defence minister. These developments underscore the ongoing changes and uncertainties in China’s military leadership. The lack of transparency in the reasons behind these reshuffles adds to the speculation surrounding the political dynamics within China’s military establishment.