In a significant political maneuver, Chinese President Xi Jinping's extensive military purge has led to the removal of General Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Western Theatre Command. Zhao, who oversaw major border confrontations with India, has been stripped of his membership on the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body.
The CPPCC vote also saw Zhao removed from his position as deputy director of the ethnic and religious affairs committee. While state media outlets Xinhua and the People’s Daily published these decisions, no official explanation or confirmation of corruption charges has been issued.
General Zhao's Role in Border Tensions
General Zhao Zongqi was appointed as the inaugural head of the restructured Western Theatre Command in February 2016. In this role, he commanded Chinese military forces across critical regions including Xinjiang, Tibet, and the entire disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. His tenure was notably marked by two highly volatile military standoffs between Beijing and New Delhi.
The 2017 Doklam Standoff
In June 2017, Chinese forces operating under Zhao’s command initiated construction of an operational road through the Doklam plateau, a territory claimed by both Bhutan and China. Indian troops intervened near the India-China-Bhutan trijunction in the Chumbi Valley to halt the construction. This action led to a tense 72-day military confrontation, which concluded only after both nations agreed to disengage. Subsequent reports identified General Zhao as the primary strategist behind China’s aggressive stance during this episode.
The 2020 Galwan Valley Clash
In May 2020, Chinese troops orchestrated coordinated incursions at multiple points in eastern Ladakh. The crisis escalated dramatically on June 15, 2020, into a brutal hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley. This incident marked the first fatal military clash along the LAC in 45 years. Twenty Indian soldiers tragically lost their lives. While Beijing officially acknowledged four PLA casualties, independent intelligence assessments suggested Chinese fatalities exceeded 30. US intelligence reports later indicated that General Zhao personally authorized the aggressive Galwan operation, reportedly intending to “teach India a lesson.”
Broader Systemic Turbulence
Zhao’s removal aligns with a wider systemic upheaval within the top echelons of the PLA. This ongoing anti-corruption crackdown by President Xi Jinping has seen more than 100 high-ranking officers removed, investigated, or dismissed. Other prominent figures, such as Generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, were also stripped of their roles on China’s state Central Military Commission following probes into serious violations of discipline and law, underscoring the depth of the current purge.