China Expels Prominent Delegates from National People's Congress

China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislative body, has expelled 13 prominent delegates, including six military generals. The announcement was made on Saturday by the NPC, which comprises nearly three thousand delegates. Among those removed is Xu Xueqiang, a significant figure who previously served as head of equipment development for the powerful Central Military Commission, the body that commands the People's Liberation Army.

The NPC's statement did not provide specific reasons for these expulsions. However, the move occurs within the context of an ongoing, extensive anti-corruption campaign spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, who also chairs the Central Military Commission. This campaign has targeted numerous high-ranking military officials over the past several years.

This is not the first time delegates have been removed from the NPC. In February, shortly before the body's annual session, several military officials were also expelled. Notable cases within the broader anti-corruption drive have included investigations into Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, both former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission. Currently, only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, head of the commission for discipline inspection, remain from the original seven members of the commission.

In addition to the military figures, the NPC also expelled Ma Xingrui, a prominent party representative and a member of the Politburo, which represents the inner circle of leadership within China's ruling Communist Party. The NPC currently has 2,858 delegates, according to official figures.