By Li Deyan, Vision Times
On Feb. 25, China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee convened its 21st session in Beijing to “review personnel matters and representative qualifications,” an agenda item that has drawn attention amid ongoing investigations into senior military officials.
The meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People, was chaired by Zhao Leji, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. According to state media reports, 152 members attended, including vice chairpersons Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, and Zhang Qingwei, along with Secretary-General Liu Qi.
RELATED: Inside the Zhang Youxia Fallout: Leak Claims and the Politics Behind Them
State Councilor Chen Yiqin, Supreme People’s Court President Zhang Jun, Supreme People’s Procuratorate Prosecutor-General Ying Yong, and other officials were present as non-voting participants.
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
Official coverage emphasized that one of the session’s primary tasks was preparation for the upcoming fourth session of the 14th NPC. Lawmakers reviewed draft reports on the Standing Committee’s work, proposed agendas, and other procedural matters. The meeting also heard a report on the qualifications of certain deputies and deliberated on unspecified appointment and removal proposals.
Attention turns to PLA officials
While state media did not detail the contents of the personnel proposals, outside observers have focused on whether the deliberations might involve Zhang Youxia or Liu Zhenli, both senior figures in China’s military establishment who were formally placed under investigation earlier this year.
On Jan. 24, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Zhang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu, chief of the Joint Staff Department, were under investigation for alleged “serious violations of discipline and law.”
Despite the announcement, both men remain listed on the NPC’s official website as deputies representing the military and armed police delegation. Their continued formal status has fueled speculation over whether their representative qualifications will be addressed at the current session.
Rumors and uncertainty
Since news of their investigations emerged, Zhang’s whereabouts and health condition have been subjects of intense discussion online. Multiple, and sometimes conflicting, accounts have circulated on social media.
On Feb. 23, Canada-based activist Sheng Xue posted on X that she had received an urgent call from a source in China claiming that Zhang had been executed. The post did not provide further details, and no official confirmation has been issued.
At present, the claim remains unverified. Analysts note that in China’s opaque political system, competing factions may release selective information to influence narratives. Without formal announcements, the situation remains speculative.
Broader implications
The NPC Standing Committee has the authority to approve or revoke deputy qualifications and to handle personnel changes within state institutions. In past cases involving disciplinary investigations, removal of official titles and representative status has followed after internal Party decisions.
However, state media reporting on the Feb. 25 session did not mention Zhang or Liu by name. The lack of public clarification has heightened interest in the outcome of the committee’s deliberations. If their deputy status is formally revoked, it would mark another step in the unfolding disciplinary process. If not, questions may persist about the timing and sequence of procedural actions.
Recent years have seen multiple high-level investigations within China’s military and political systems, reflecting what authorities describe as ongoing anti-corruption and discipline enforcement efforts.
At the same time, external observers caution against drawing definitive conclusions from incomplete information. But for now, the focus remains on whether the NPC Standing Committee’s personnel review will include formal action concerning Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Until further announcements are made, their legal and political status remains officially unchanged.
Editorial note: This article is based on publicly circulating reports and commentary from independent analysts. The claims described have not been independently verified by Vision Times, and relevant authorities have not publicly confirmed the allegations.
