THE country’s legislature has dismissed 19 members, including nine who are military officers, one week ahead of its annual meeting.
The late Thursday announcement did not say why the deputies had been removed, but such removals are generally tied to corruption investigations.
An anti-corruption campaign launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping shows no sign of letting up after more than a decade.
The military has been targeted in recent years, including the removal of its top general last month, as Xi seeks to reform and modernise the armed forces.
The dismissals aren’t likely to have a major impact on the meeting of the National People’s Congress, which opens next Thursday and is expected to run for a week. The largely ceremonial legislature rubber stamps decisions that have been made by the ruling Communist Party.
The removed officers include two under the Central Military Commission, the military’s highest body, as well as others from the army, the navy, the air force and the rocket force. Three are generals.
The other dismissed deputies were regional representatives from several provinces. The removals leave the National People’s Congress with 2,878 members. — AP
