In China, after military purges, civilian officials are now targeted

Photo: AP Photo/Ng Han Guan

On March 4 and 5, the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress is taking place in Beijing. This body includes provincial governors, military leadership, and heads of large enterprises. However, this year the number of delegates turned out to be the lowest since 2000, which may indicate an expansion of the campaign against disloyalty and corruption.

According to Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Congress, 2,765 deputies were present at the opening of the session in the Great Hall of the People. This is the lowest figure since the beginning of the century. 113 delegates — almost 4% of the total — did not attend the session, and the reasons for their absence were not disclosed. This is the largest number of absentees during Xi Jinping's rule, excluding 2022, when many missed the session due to coronavirus restrictions.

On average, the absenteeism rate this year is almost double the average for the last 13 years, which was about 2%.

Moreover, these figures do not include those deputies who have already been officially disqualified from participating in the work of the Congress. Since 2023, the number of delegates has decreased by 99 people — this is the most significant reduction during Xi Jinping's three terms in power. Some officials were removed as part of an anti-corruption campaign, some resigned, and several people died.

The large number of absentees raised questions about whether this is related to investigations into some deputies. According to analysts, the scale of political repression in the country may be much larger than previously thought, writes Bloomberg agency.

Earlier, Xi Jinping carried out the largest personnel reshuffles in the People's Liberation Army of China in the last fifty years, leaving only one general in the highest command. In late January, he dismissed two high-ranking military officers accused of corruption, including one of the top commanders of the armed forces — Colonel General Zhang Youxia.

According to some sources, the reasons for such actions are not entirely clear. Some believe that this may be related to distrust and fear of political opponents, while others believe it's a desire to combat corruption in the army. There is also an opinion that through these purges, Xi Jinping aims to concentrate power in his hands as much as possible, so that nothing would later hinder possible plans regarding Taiwan.

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