Henan provincial official-turned-military officer Li Shutian was arrested on June 15, 2026, half a month after being dismissed from his position. Li Shutian previously served as the Director of Operations Department at the Jinan Military Region Air Force Command and the Director of Military Requirements Bureau at the Joint Staff Department of the Northern Theater Command. Some of Li’s former superiors, including Generals Yu Zhongfu, Li Qiaoming, Ding Laihang, and Xu Xueqiang, as well as Lieutenant General Shi Zhenglu, have encountered troubles in recent years.
According to a report from the Henan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision, Li Shutian, a former party member and deputy director of the Henan Market Supervision Administration, is under investigation for serious violations of discipline and law.
Just half a month before, Li Shutian was removed from his position. On May 30, 2026, the Henan provincial government issued a notice of personnel reshuffle which included the removal of Li Shutian from his position as deputy director of the Henan Market Supervision Administration.
Li Shutian, born in January 1966 in Xihua County, Zhoukou City, Henan Province, graduated from the Ground Navigation Department of the Air Force Navigation Academy in 1988. From March 2005 to August 2013, he held various positions within the Air Force. He was subsequently appointed as the Director of Operations Department at the Jinan Military Region Air Force Command in August 2013, then became the Director of the Military Requirements Bureau at the Northern Theater Command in February 2016. He transitioned to civilian work in January 2018, serving as the deputy director and party member of the Henan Provincial Administration for Industry and Commerce, and later as a party member and deputy director of the Henan Market Supervision Administration from December 2018 to May 2026.
Li Shutian’s military career primarily focused on roles within the Air Force. He served as Director of Operations Department at the Jinan Military Region Air Force Command for two and a half years from August 2013 to January 2016. During this time, he worked under General Sun Herong as the Deputy Commander of the Jinan Military Region. From 2016 to 2018, he held the position of the Director of Military Requirements Bureau at the Northern Theater Command. However, his career took a turn when he entered civilian service under the Henan provincial government.
In the midst of political changes and internal strife within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), prominent military figures like Li Shutian have faced investigations and dismissals. The current wave of purges and investigations within the military has seen a total of 36 senior military officials, including 16 generals, 14 lieutenant generals, and 6 major generals, being removed from their positions as National People’s Congress delegates. Li Shutian’s downfall raises questions whether it was due to issues during his provincial tenure or as part of the broader military cleansing. The exact reasons remain undisclosed.
As the CCP continues to navigate internal power struggles and purges, the uncertainty surrounding top military officials like Li Shutian reflects the ongoing tumultuous landscape of Chinese politics and military affairs.