NTD: Retired Chinese General Zhao Zongqi Stripped of CPPCC National Committee Membership; HK Media Says He Is Involved in Military Anti-Corruption

According to NTD Television, citing official reports, the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC concluded its meeting on August 26, confirming the revocation of the CPPCC membership of retired General Zhao Zongqi and others. The media outlet pointed out that this is the first time Zhao Zongqi has been publicly declared by officials to be "in trouble."

NTD Television, citing Hong Kong media outlet "Ming Pao," reported that Zhao Zongqi's dismissal this time was due to his involvement in the military's "anti-corruption storm." However, the media outlet also noted that the so-called anti-corruption might only be a pretext for military purges, a claim that has not yet been independently verified.

Public records show that Zhao Zongqi served as the Commander of the Western Theater Command and was promoted to General in 2015. The report pointed out that Zhao Zongqi has been absent from high-level CPPCC meetings since 2026, and following the dismissal of several military CPPCC Standing Committee members, only one remains on the list.

In addition to Zhao Zongqi, Gu Xueming, President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce, was also stripped of his committee membership on the same day. NTD Television stated that this was also his first official announcement of being under investigation, while other officials dismissed or stripped of their qualifications in the same batch had previously been reported as having "fallen from grace."

NTD Television's analysis pointed out that the aforementioned changes indicate that the internal purges in the military and government are still ongoing. However, due to the limited disclosure of details regarding relevant cases by Chinese officials, the specific allegations against Zhao Zongqi and the situation regarding internal struggles within the military currently cannot be verified.

What is Currently Known

• On August 26, 2026, the 18th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC confirmed the dismissal of Zhao Zongqi from his posts as a standing committee member of the CPPCC and deputy director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee, and revoked his CPPCC membership.
• Zhao Zongqi was promoted to General in 2015, served as Commander of the Western Theater Command in 2016, and was later transferred to positions in the National People's Congress (NPC) and the CPPCC.
• Gu Xueming (President of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation under the Ministry of Commerce) was also stripped of his CPPCC membership at the meeting on the same day.
• Other officials disciplined in the same batch, including Zhang Zhuohua, Hao Rong, Xin Bao'an, and Li Heyue, had previously been officially reported as fallen from grace.

Not Yet Confirmed

• The claim by the Hong Kong media outlet "Ming Pao" that Zhao Zongqi was dismissed due to his involvement in the military's "anti-corruption storm" has not been independently confirmed by Chinese officials.
• NTD Television's allegations that "military anti-corruption is a pretext for brutal purges" and that there is a "life-or-death struggle" within the military currently lack objective third-party evidence.
• The specific details of the suspected disciplinary and legal violations involving Gu Xueming and Zhao Zongqi have not yet been made public by officials.

Sources

• NTD Television (NTDTV) — Original Report: Retired General Zhao Zongqi Dismissed as CPPCC Member; HK Media Says He Is in Trouble
• 2026-08-27 00:00 UTC

• The main factual basis of this article comes from a report published by NTD Television (NTDTV) on August 27, 2026.
• The content in the report regarding the CPPCC dismissal decision is cited from China's official media Xinhua News Agency.
• The claim about Zhao Zongqi being "involved in the anti-corruption storm" is cited from Hong Kong media outlet "Ming Pao."

Last Updated: 2026-08-27 16:09 UTC