The case of the “Rocket Force Nest” involving former Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, a group of generals, and military industry executives has been shrouded in silence. Recent developments suggest that the authorities may continue to target more individuals, while others believe the case may be nearing its conclusion. The lack of transparency in handling these officials by the Chinese Communist Party, in contrast to the high-profile treatment of other cases, has raised concerns about the underlying reasons.
Official Chinese state media Xinhua News Agency reported on April 16 that the Chairman’s meeting of the National People’s Congress decided that the 9th meeting of the 14th NPC Standing Committee will be held in Beijing from April 23 to 26. The agenda of the Standing Committee meeting includes reviewing “reports on the qualifications of individual representatives” and “reviewing relevant appointments and dismissals.”
Political commentator Li Lin stated on April 17 that in the past two NPC Standing Committee meetings (in December last year and February this year), a group of military representatives were dismissed. The upcoming Standing Committee meeting indicates that more individuals, likely from the military, may face scrutiny. The developments at the meeting warrant close attention.
Furthermore, the Chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, Yuan Jie, and the General Manager of the China Weapon Equipment Group, Chen Guoying, who had been missing for months, were announced to have been replaced on the same day (April 12). However, their whereabouts remain unknown, and there has been no official announcement regarding their dismissal.
Previously, four military industry executives, including Wu Yansheng, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Liu Shiquan, Chairman of China Ordnance Industries Group, Wang Changqing, Vice President of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and Wang Xiaojun, Director and Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of a subordinate institution of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology), had their qualifications as members of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference revoked.
Analyst Gao Xin stated on April 15 that these individuals, along with Yuan Jie and Chen Guoying, are all accomplices in the “Rocket Force Nest” case. Another group of commissioned officers rumored to be involved have had their NPC representative qualifications revoked in the form of dismissal or “resignation” last month.
These individuals include Zhang Zhenzhong, former Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force, Lu Hong, former Minister of the Rocket Force Equipment Department, Li Yuchao, former Commander of the Rocket Force, Zhou Yaning, former former Commander of the Rocket Force, Zhang Yulin, former Deputy Director of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, Rao Wenmin, former Deputy Director of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, and Li Chuanguang, former Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force, as well as two former Defense Ministers, Wei Feng and Li Shangfu, who had previously overseen satellite launch bases.
Gao Xin suggested that other individuals involved in the “Rocket Force Nest” case should include Shang Hong, a Major General who served as Deputy Commander of the Strategic Support Force and Commander of the Aerospace Systems Department before being removed as a Party delegate in the 20th Congress in 2022. The full extent of persons implicated in the “Rocket Force Nest” case likely exceeds those mentioned, making it difficult for the public to know the exact number of people involved.
Moreover, the whereabouts of senior military officers and former top executives at the deputy ministerial level who have gone missing since the second half of last year have become clearer. This may indicate that the authorities’ investigation into the entire “Rocket Force Nest” case is nearing its conclusion, with the next step being the formal announcement of the party’s internal handling of those of high rank at the third plenary session.
The 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which was due to be held at the end of last year, has been delayed without any updates, leading to speculation. Recent reports suggest that the third plenum may take place in June.
However, commentator Wang Gong expressed in an article on April 17 that just as Li Shangfu was removed from the list of members of the Central Military Commission on the official website of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense without going through a full Central Committee meeting or any official announcement, the authorities may not need to follow the process of convening a Central Committee meeting to deal with them.
He believed that even if the third plenum is held in June as rumored, it may not necessarily address the expulsion of Central Committee members for discipline violations. The fate of the missing Central Committee members, including former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, military Central Committee members Li Shangfu and Li Yuchao, and military industry Central Committee alternate member Yuan Jie, may not be publicly disclosed. The public may not witness the authorities’ handling of these individuals in the second half of the proceedings.
Overseas media personality He Pin revealed on March 28 that Beijing authorities arrested several Chinese military generals who implicated Li Shangfu. When the evidence was presented to Xi Jinping, although Xi favored Li Shangfu, he could only instruct quietly, saying a few words: “Do it without saying.” This was interpreted by relevant personnel as meaning taking care of Li Shangfu discreetly without publicizing it.
Wang Gong believed that Xi’s secretive handling of Li Shangfu and others stems from the fact that the current central leadership was selected and approved by Xi himself. Therefore, Xi is striving to protect his interests, making it appear that there are no cracks within the central leadership. Additionally, Xi’s autocratic behavior and disregard for internal party rules have caused the Communist Party’s internal operations to malfunction, signaling the decline of the regime.
On February 27, ahead of the “Two Sessions,” the Chinese Communist Party revoked the NPC representative qualifications of several individuals but did not clarify Li Shangfu’s status as an NPC representative. During the “Two Sessions,” without any official announcement, NPC spokesman Lou Qinjian informed the media that Li Shangfu was no longer an NPC representative. Nevertheless, Li Shangfu’s name continued to appear on the NPC’s official website list of representatives.
Former Central Discipline Inspection Commission draft writer Wang Youqun wrote in the Epoch Times that the question of whether Li Shangfu is an NPC representative reflects the chaos within the Chinese Communist Party, demonstrating that Chinese politics has entered an era of opacity and secrecy. The internal power struggle within the opaque black box could turn into Xi’s worst nightmare.
Responsibility Editor: Li Muen