China’s top legislative body on Thursday dismissed Wang Xiangxi as minister of emergency management, state media reported, in a move endorsed by President Xi Jinping. The decision, made by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), comes days before the annual “Two Sessions” parliamentary gatherings are set to start next week.
The dismissal of Wang, confirmed by China Central Television, is the latest in a series of personnel changes within the Chinese government and military amid what appears to be an expanding anti-corruption campaign led by Xi Jinping. The NPC Standing Committee also voted to remove Liu Shaoyun from his position as president of the People’s Liberation Army’s military court, though the reasons for his removal were not immediately disclosed.
According to reports from state media, 19 delegates were also removed from the National People’s Congress, including Sun Shaocheng, the former party secretary of Inner Mongolia, who is under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law” – a phrase commonly used to denote corruption allegations. Nine of those removed were military officials, including former Navy commander Shen Jinlong and ground forces commander Li Qiaoming.
The moves follow a recent investigation into Zhang Youxia, a high-ranking military official and close associate of Xi Jinping, and Liu Zhenli, head of the People’s Liberation Army joint staff department. Whereas details surrounding the investigations remain scarce, the PLA has stated that the probes address instances where the two generals “seriously undermined and violated” the Chairman Responsibility System, which centralizes military decision-making power under Xi Jinping.
President Xi Jinping signed an order endorsing the removal of Wang Xiangxi, according to Xinhua news agency, signaling the central leadership’s direct involvement in the personnel changes. The timing of these dismissals, just prior to the “Two Sessions,” suggests a deliberate effort to present a unified front and address potential vulnerabilities within the government and military before the important political meetings.
The anti-corruption drive has intensified in recent weeks, with investigations extending beyond the military to encompass key civilian positions, including the Ministry of Emergency Management. Wang Xiangxi had been in his role since July 2022, prior to which he served as chairman of state-owned power generator National Energy Investment Corp.
