Nuclear weapons expert among 3 removed from Chinese legislature
Defense industry experts removed by Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress as they met in Beijing
- Meeting comes amid probe into 2 of China’s top uniformed soldiers, one of them allegedly accused of leaking nuclear secrets to Washington
ISTANBUL
China on Wednesday removed three defense industry delegates, including a nuclear weapons expert, from the national legislature.
The Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) met in Beijing amid a high-level probe into two top generals.
The committee removed Liu Cangli, former head of the China Academy of Engineering Physics; Luo Qi, chief engineer of the China National Nuclear Corporation; and Zhou Xinmin, former chair of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, according to the South China Morning Post daily.
The reason for their removal was not given.
The committee made the decision at its 20th session.
National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji presided over the session, which reviewed and passed a Credentials Committee report on the lawmakers’ qualifications.
Notably, the review came after China’s Defense Ministry announced on Jan. 24 that Gen. Zhang Youxia and Gen. Liu Zhenli were under investigation for “suspected serious disciplinary and legal violations.”
US media reports have claimed Zhang stands accused of leaking nuclear secrets to Washington.
There was no mention of Zhang and Liu, who are among the seven members of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Military Commission (CMC), led by President Xi Jinping.
With the latest probe, the CMC has only two active members left, including Xi and Zhang Shengmin, who serves as secretary of the commission’s disciplinary inspection body.
In recent months, Gen. He Weidong, Gen. Li Shangfu, and Adm. Miao Hua were all investigated and removed from the CMC.
Zhang is a member of the Communist Party of China’s Political Bureau as well as vice chair of the CMC.
Liu is a member of the CMC and chief of staff of the CMC Joint Staff Department.
The duo is among some 30 Chinese senior military officials who have been investigated or removed since 2023, when Xi began his unprecedented third term as president.
