On December 24, 2025, eight high-ranking officials, who had previously resigned abruptly and disappeared from public view, had their membership in the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) revoked. Among them were Cao Jianguo, Zhang Dongchen, Zeng Yi, and Fan Youshan from the military-industrial system; Liu Guoyue and Yu Peigen from the energy system; Ma Zhengwu from the logistics system; and the well-known Wang Xinghuan, a urology expert who also served as the director of Leishenshan Hospital during the Wuhan virus (COVID-19) pandemic.
According to the official state news agency Xinhua, on the morning of December 24, the 45th Chairman’s Meeting of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC was held in Beijing.
The meeting approved the decision to revoke the CPPCC membership of Wang Xinghuan, Zhang Dongchen, Cao Jianguo, Liu Guoyue, Ma Zhengwu, Fan Youshan, Zeng Yi, and Yu Peigen, on the grounds of serious disciplinary and legal violations, as they are currently under investigation.
It is noteworthy that all eight individuals had been dismissed from their positions and had disappeared from public view before their CPPCC membership was revoked.
Cao Jianguo, who had long been involved in the development of ballistic missile weapon systems, was the chairman of the China Aviation Engine Group and a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering before his dismissal earlier this year at the age of less than 62.
Zhang Dongchen, 63, had disappeared while serving as the chairman of China Satellite Network Group (China SatNet) before Guo Ping, former deputy director of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC), assumed the position on June 13.
Born in May 1965, Zeng Yi, from the defense industry system, served as the general manager and later chairman of China Electronics Information Industry Group in 2021 and 2023, respectively. His whereabouts became unknown after the chairman change at China Electronics in April this year.
Fan Youshan, 62, had held various positions in the defense industry system before becoming the vice chairman and general manager of China Electronic Technology Group Corporation in February 2015 and later assuming roles in national business associations, eventually disappearing from leadership positions.
Liu Guoyue, 62, from the electric power system, had served as the vice general manager of State Grid Corporation of China before becoming the general manager and later chairman of China National Energy Investment Group Ltd. Since his replacement by Zou Lei, chairman of China Datang Corporation, in February 2025, Liu had not been seen publicly for three months.
Yu Peigen, 63, from the nuclear power system, was a former vice general manager of China National Nuclear Corporation. After becoming the general manager and then chairman of Dongfang Electric Corporation in April 2019, his disappearance was noted after his chairman title was removed from the official website in June this year.
Ma Zhengwu, born in January 1963, had been the general manager and later chairman of the state-owned China Rongtong Asset Management Group Co., Ltd., one of the top ten central enterprises in China. His absence from public view for over six months coincided with Li Wenqing assuming the chairman position in July this year.
With a high level of recognition among the group, Wang Xinghuan, born in August 1965, was a prominent figure among the eight CPPCC members whose memberships were revoked. He was a urology specialist, the chief scientist of a key research and development program during China’s 13th Five-Year Plan, and received a special government allowance. Wang had served as the director of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University since July 2015 and also held the position of Leishenshan Hospital director during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Reports of him being taken away for investigation surfaced at the end of November this year, after which Li Zhiqiang assumed the role of director of Zhongnan Hospital. Wang Xinghuan’s whereabouts remain unknown.