China has recently removed a prominent military commander from its top political advisory body. This commander was responsible for overseeing Chinese forces during significant confrontations with India, including the Doklam standoff in 2017 and the Galwan clashes in 2020, both of which heightened border tensions between the two nations. The decision reflects ongoing shifts within China’s military leadership as it navigates complex geopolitical challenges in the region.
Zongqi served as the first commander of China’s Western Theater Command, and was handed the military flag by President Xi Jinping in 2016. He was born in Bin County, Heilongjiang Province in 1955, according to public reports cited by The Paper. Apart from Zongqi, China also removed two senior military officers from its supreme military command body, the state Central Military Commission, state-run Xinhua reported.
The former commander had combat experience in the Sino-Vietnamese war, and had handled the India-China border conflicts. This was done after investigations into suspected serious violations of discipline and law. Prior to that, he was the commander of the Jinan Military Region, and was transferred from there to the Western Command. Having risen through the ranks of war to become a senior PLA general, Zongqi was once the youngest commander among the seven military regions of the People’s Liberation Army.
He was promoted to deputy chief of staff of the Tibet Military Region in 1998, and later became became chief of staff. Earlier reporting noted: During the 1979 China-Vietnam War, Zhao fought on the western front.
Earlier reporting noted: Zhao has been removed from the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and two other positions, according to Reuters . He took part in military operations around Lao Cai, Cam Duong and Sa Pa, according to The Paper . He served as commander of the 14th and 13th Group Armies, and was elected as a member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and promoted to Commander of the Jinan Military Region.
Earlier reporting noted: This new development is believed to be part of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s wider corruption crackdown in the country’s armed forces.
