The official Chinese agency Xinhua reported the removal of nine military officials from the National People's Congress, marking the lowest military representation in the Congress since at least 1974. The justification for these expulsions has been generic, citing 'serious violations of discipline and the law', which raises questions about the underlying reasons for such actions. This trend of military purges suggests a shift towards greater centralization of power as Xi Jinping aims to consolidate control over the armed forces.

The article highlights that this is not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern observed over recent months. In January, for instance, Beijing initiated a formal investigation against Zhang Youxia, the highest-ranking general at the time, and Liu Zhenli, the Chief of Joint Staff. Both were members of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which is the top command authority of the Chinese armed forces. These moves reflect a systematic approach to prune the military leadership and eliminate potential dissenters or rivals within the ranks.

In the context of Chinese politics, where transparency is limited, such purges raise speculations about the internal dynamics of power and discipline within the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Observers anticipate that these military reforms will pave the way for Xi to exert even more influence over the military, ensuring loyalty and compliance as China's geopolitical challenges continue to evolve. This tightening grip on the military could have significant implications for China's foreign policy and military strategy in the future.