Three former presidents of the National Defense University of the Chinese Communist Party, Generals Zheng He, Xu Xueqiang, and Xiao Tianliang have been notably absent from the ongoing two sessions of the Chinese Communist Party. Earlier reports suggested that Xu Xueqiang and Xiao Tianliang are under investigation.
Zheng He also served as the political commissar of the National Defense University. Another former political commissar of the National Defense University, Major General Zhong Shaojun, was dismissed from his position in October 2025, his whereabouts are unknown, with rumors of being arrested. Zhong Shaojun had long served as the military aide to the party leader Xi Jinping. Furthermore, former president of the National Defense University, General Wang Xibin, was arrested nine years ago. There are reports stating that the former political commissar of the National Defense University, General Liu Yazhou, has been secretly sentenced to life imprisonment.
At the opening ceremony of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference on the afternoon of March 4, 2026, only one general, Yi Xiaoguang, was present.
During the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference held on March 1-2, Generals Han Weiguo, Liu Lei, and Gao Jin had their membership revoked and were relieved of their duties as members of the National Committee.
Out of the 15 military representatives in the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, including 9 generals and 6 lieutenant generals, the remaining five military members who are generals, namely Wang Ning, Zhao Zongqi, Wu Shezhou, Zhu Shengling, and Zheng He have all been absent from the meetings held on March 1-2, March 4, and March 7.
Zheng He, born in November 1958 in Shanghai, graduated from the Russian Frunze Military Academy with a specialty in battle tactics. He has held various high-ranking positions in the military over the years, including serving as the director of the General Staff Department at the Military Science Institute under the military headquarters. Zheng He has a long history of service in the Chinese military and rose through the ranks to become a top general before taking up leadership roles within the National Defense University.
The Chinese Central Television reported that among the high-ranking military delegates, a total of 13 generals were absent from the military representatives’ establishment meeting on March 3, and the full body meeting on March 7.
Xu Xueqiang, who served as the president of the National Defense University from August 2021 to October 2022, and Xiao Tianliang, who has been working at the National Defense University since December 2014 and took over as the president in February 2023, were both absent from the Fourth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party in October 2024, as well as several other significant events.
Since the tenure of Wang Xibin as the president of the National Defense University from 2007 to 2013, several leaders within the university have faced various issues. Liu Yazhou, who served as the political commissar of the National Defense University from December 2009 to January 2017, was rumored to be involved in a corruption case and was retired early.
It is noteworthy that the National Defense University is a prestigious institution within the military, responsible for educating and training high-ranking military officials. The recent developments and absences of key officials from the university raise questions and concerns about the state of affairs within the Chinese military leadership.