China purges defence firm executives from top political body

Among those ousted was Wu Yansheng, chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which oversees development of the country’s spacecraft and missile systems.

Li Shangfu was removed as defence minister in October. Picture: AFP

Three executives at leading Chinese missile defence firms have been removed from Beijing’s top political advisory committee, according to state media, in the latest high-level demotions in the country’s military establishment.

Among those ousted was Wu Yansheng, chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which oversees development of the country’s spacecraft and missile systems.

Also removed were Liu Shiquan, chairman of Norinco Group, a leading manufacturer of military equipment, and Wang Changqing, a former expert at the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.

All three firms are state-owned and play a key role in the country’s defence industry.

No reason was given for their removals on Wednesday from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, which was reported by state broadcaster CCTV.

Fighting alleged corruption has long been a central theme of President Xi Jinping’s rule, which has been punctuated by a series of high-level removals and disappearances of officials.

In October, defence minister Li Shangfu was abruptly sacked following months of speculation about his whereabouts. A replacement for General Li has not yet been announced and Beijing has not given a reason for his removal.

Recent months have also seen an overhaul in the leadership of China’s secretive Rocket Force, the army unit that oversees Beijing’s nuclear arsenal, following media reports of a corruption probe involving its former chief.

The country’s previous foreign minister, Qin Gang, was replaced in July a month after disappearing from public view.

Authorities took General Li away for questioning in September. A purge would make him the third incumbent member of the Central Military Commission – which commands the armed forces – to be taken down by the President, roughly six years after the party opened graft probes against two senior generals that prompted one to commit suicide and consigned the other to life imprisonment.

Since taking power in late 2012, Mr Xi has used corruption probes to assert control over the politically influential People’s Liberation Army and push through a far-reaching modernisation program. The purge cleared the way for him to promote officers considered by military affairs specialists to be more professional and politically reliable.

General Li’s last publicly disclosed engagement was on August 29, when he gave a speech at a China-Africa security conference in Beijing. His removal mirrored the ousting of other senior PLA officers in recent months.

AFP