Ex-armed police chief Wang Ning ousted from China’s top advisory body

Former commander of China's paramilitary force, General Wang Ning, has been stripped of his senior political advisory roles, marking a sweeping downfall of over 15 years in which three consecutive heads of the People's Armed Police (PAP) have fallen from grace. On Wednesday, the top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), revoked Wang's membership during its closing session, presided over by China’s fourth-ranking leader and CPPCC chair, Wang Huning.

China maintains most investigations within its military secret, making announcements of retired generals' removals from China’s national legislative and political advisory bodies a valuable source for tracking recent moves. Wang, who vanished from public view months ago and was notably absent from the March "two sessions" legislative gathering, has a military background deeply rooted in the Nanjing Military Region and the Fujian-based 31st Group Army.

He held key positions, including group army commander and deputy chief of general staff, before leading the armed police from 2014 to 2020. Wang's ousting adds to a notable number of senior generals, including his predecessors Wang Jianping and Wang Chunning, who are currently embroiled in corruption investigations. This series of events underscores the intensity of China's anti-corruption campaign led by President Xi, as evidenced by recent disciplinary penalties against 16 generals during the Communist Party's fifth plenum.