Chinese Regime Removes 19 Deputies as Fate of Top Generals Remains Unclear

While nine army officers lost their seats, the absence of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli from the list suggests unusual hesitation.

Chinese military delegates leave the closing session of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 22, 2022. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images

China’s rubber-stamp congress has removed 19 national-level lawmakers, including nine senior military officers, a move that underscores ongoing upheaval within the People’s Liberation Army.

Yet one name was conspicuously absent—Zhang Youxia, former vice chairman of China’s powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), who had previously been announced in January 2026 as being under investigation.