China has removed three senior leaders of military state-owned enterprises from a top political advisory body, signalling President Xi Jinping’s tightening control of the armed forces.
The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a government advisory group under the ruling Chinese Communist party, has revoked the memberships of Liu Shiquan, chair of weapons manufacturer China North Industries Group, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp chair Wu Yansheng and China Aerospace Science & Industry Corp executive Wang Changqing, according to state media.
Xi has this year embarked on a sweeping overhaul of China’s military at a time when the US and its allies have increasingly opposed Beijing’s military assertiveness towards Taiwan and in disputed territories in the South China Sea.