China removes senior general Zhong Shaojun in sweeping military anti-corruption purge

Zhong Shaojun, who rose from civilian posts in Zhejiang to become the president’s close aide within the Central Military Commission, has been removed amid a sweeping anti-corruption campaign targeting the PLA. His duties included managing the Commission’s office and ensuring Xi received unfiltered military intelligence, a role unusual for someone without a traditional army background. The dismissal coincides with the recent fall of generals Zhang Youxia, the former vice-chairman of the Commission, and Liu Zhenli, head of the Joint Staff Department, both under investigation for severe disciplinary breaches.

With five of the original seven Commission members now gone, only Xi and anti-corruption chief Zhang Shengmin remain. Analysts see the moves as a test of personal loyalty and a step toward tighter civilian control of the armed forces before the 2027 Party Congress, where Xi aims for a fourth term.