In the years 2024 to 2026, the number of current and former members of the military commission accompanying the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping, to watch the annual military cultural performances has decreased from 13 to 7.
During the current 20th Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party, two vice chairmen, Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, and three members, Li Shangfu, Miao Hua, and Liu Zhenli, have all fallen from grace.
Over the past year, as the military purges have intensified, former vice chairman of the military commission, Xu Qiliang, and former commission member, Liang Guanglie, alongside Luo Xilong have passed away.
On February 6, 2026, the so-called Chinese Communist Military Commission visited the China Theater to watch a special cultural performance to greet the Spring Festival among retired officers in Beijing. Xi Jinping, the party leader of the CCP, and Vice Chairman Zhang Shengmin were in attendance.
According to footage from China Central Television, Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin were joined by 6 former military officials, including former vice chairmen Cao Gangchuan and Fan Changlong, and former members Chen Bingde, Li Jinai, Zhao Keshi, and Wu Shengli.
Compared to the previous two years, the number of current and former military commission members attending the show with Xi Jinping has significantly decreased.
In the January 17, 2025 performance, 10 members of the military commission and retired officers accompanied Xi, including Vice Chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, and members Liu Zhenli and Miao Hua.
Among the retired officers were 6 individuals, such as former vice chairman Cao Gangchuan, Xu Qiliang, Fan Changlong, and former members Li Jinai, Zhao Keshi, and Wu Shengli.
During the January 29, 2024 performance, 13 military commission members and retired officers accompanied Xi to watch the show, with attendees like Vice Chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, members Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua, and Zhang Shengmin.
There were 8 retired officers, including former vice chairman Cao Gangchuan, Fan Changlong, Xu Qiliang, and former members Li Jinai, Zhao Keshi, and Li Zuocheng.
When the 20th Military Commission of the CCP was established in October 2022, the members included Xi Jinping, Vice Chairmen Zhang Youxia and He Weidong, and members Li Shangfu, Liu Zhenli, Miao Hua, and Zhang Shengmin.
Member of the CCP Military Commission, State Councilor, and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu was investigated on August 31, 2023, and was relieved of his duties in October as the State Councilor and Minister of National Defense.
Member of the CCP Military Commission and Director of the Political Work Department, Miao Hua was placed under “suspended investigation” at the end of November 2024 and was removed from the list of National People’s Congress delegates in March 2025.
On October 17, 2025, Vice Chairman of the CCP Military Commission He Weidong, member of the Military Commission Miao Hua, and nine senior generals were officially ousted, stripped of party membership and military positions.
Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and member Liu Zhenli of the CCP Military Commission were absent from the opening ceremony of the provincial and ministerial-level officials study class on January 20, 2026, and were both ousted on January 24.
Since the 20th Party Congress, from 2023 to January 2026, there have been annual investigations into members of the military commission, leading to a continuous decline in the number of current members accompanying Xi to watch military performances each year from 2024 to 2026.
Xu Qiliang, who had accompanied Xi to watch military performances in 2024 and 2025, passed away on June 2, 2025, at the age of 75.
Official Chinese media reported Xu Qiliang’s death as due to illness, but there have been various rumors in the public regarding the cause of his death. Xu Qiliang had connections with Xi Jinping in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. After Xi Jinping came to power, Xu Qiliang played a significant role in military reforms and purges.
Former member of the Military Commission, State Councilor, and Minister of National Defense Liang Guanglie attended the cultural performance in January 2024, and he passed away on November 12, 2024, at the age of 84.
Liang Guanglie began his military career in the First Army of the former Wuhan Military Region. He later served as the Commander of the Nanjing Military Region from December 1999 to October 2002. During his tenure, Miao Hua served as the Director of the Political Department of the 31st Group Army in the Nanjing Military Region, under Liang Guanglie.
Liang Guanglie’s death coincided with troubles faced by Miao Hua. Shortly after Liang Guanglie’s death, Miao Hua was placed under “suspended investigation” on November 28, 2024.
Moreover, former member of the Military Commission and Minister of the General Logistics Department, Lieutenant General Liao Xilong, passed away on January 23, 2026, at the age of 85, after ineffective medical treatment.
Liao Xilong and Zhang Youxia both participated in the Vietnam War. Liao Xilong served as the Deputy Commander and Commander of the Chengdu Military Region. Zhang Youxia had been a subordinate of Liao Xilong in the Chengdu Military Region.
In a media program on January 26, 2026, commentator Cai Shenkun revealed that the day after Zhang Youxia was arrested, Liao Xilong’s son and brother were also taken into custody. Liao Xilong made several calls but could not ascertain who was taken, and a few days later, he suddenly passed away. It was indicated by insiders that Liao Xilong’s death was not due to illness but rather likely due to fear or distress.
Liao Xilong, Liang Guanglie, Chen Bingde, and Li Jinai were all members of the 16th and 17th Military Commissions of the CCP. While Liang Guanglie, Chen Bingde, and Li Jinai had accompanied Xi Jinping to watch military performances in the past three years, Liao Xilong had not been present in such instances.