The official notification from the Chinese People’s Congress on the 26th stated that Han Shuwang was “suspected of serious violation of discipline and law” and was relieved of his duties as a national People’s Congress representative. Han Shuwang is the former Vice President of the Rocket Academy and former Chairman of the Aerospace Investment Holdings, suspected of being involved in the rocket military corruption case. Four other officials were also dismissed from their People’s Congress positions at the same time.
On April 26, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People’s Congress announced that Han Shuwang, Xu Nuojin, Gu Zhengju, and Yang Xiaoming were removed from their positions as representatives of the 14th National People’s Congress by the Standing Committees of Hebei, Henan, Sichuan, and Tibet respectively. Yang Xiaoming’s position as a member of the 14th National People’s Congress Ethnic Committee was also revoked.
Of particular interest is Han Shuwang, who is believed to be linked to the rocket military corruption case.
Public records show that Han Shuwang, born in 1964, started working at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (Rocket Academy or Aerospace First Academy) Aerospace Automatic Control Research Institute in 1988. He served as Deputy Director of the Political Department of the Rocket Academy in 1997, Director of the Office of the Rocket Academy in 1998, General Manager of Beijing Wanyuan Industrial Company in 1999, Assistant to the Director of the Rocket Academy in 2000, and Vice President of the Rocket Academy in 2002. From November 2000 to April 2011, he also served as a director of Aerospace Information Co., Ltd. He became the Executive Director and Vice Chairman of China Aerospace Wanyuan International (Group) Co., Ltd. on February 14, 2006, and later became the Chairman on October 26, 2007.
In September 2021, Han Shuwang was appointed Chairman and Party Secretary of Aerospace Investment Holdings Co., Ltd., replacing Zhang Tao, the former Party Secretary and Chairman who was arrested for a “drunken assault” case.
Official media reports did not disclose the details of why Han Shuwang was relieved of his People’s Congress representative status. Due to Han Shuwang’s background at the Rocket Academy, there are suggestions online that he may be closely connected to the scandals involving senior rocket military officials that have been continuously uncovered since last year.
After the 20th National Congress of the CCP, the rocket military became a key target for rectification. In December last year, nine senior military officers had their status as representatives of the National People’s Congress revoked. Among the nine, at least five were from the rocket military, including former Commander of the Rocket Force, General Li Yuchao, former Commander of the Rocket Force, General Zhou Yaning, Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force, Lieutenant General Li Chuanguang, Director of the Rocket Force Equipment Department, Major General Lu Hong, and former Deputy Commander of the Rocket Force, who later served as Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, Lieutenant General Zhang Zhenzhong.
On January 29 this year, Wang Xiaojun, the Director of the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, had his status as a member of the CCP’s Political Consultative Conference revoked. Wang Xiaojun is a renowned aerospace rocket expert who had served as the overall commander of the Long March 7 carrier rocket.
According to official CCP information, the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, also known as the First Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Limited, is the oldest and largest base in China for the research, development, testing, and production of missile weapons and carrier rockets.
On February 27, Feng Jiehong, former Chairman of the China Aerospace Sanjiang Group and a rocket expert, was also relieved of his duties as a People’s Congress representative.
Prior to this, military industry veterans who had their status as members of the 14th National People’s Congress revoked also include Wu Yansheng, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, Liu Shiquan, Chairman of China Ordnance Industry Group, and Wang Changqing, Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation. Wu Yansheng had studied and worked at the Rocket Academy, and from January 2002 to November 2007, he served as Director of the Rocket Academy.
On April 12, Yu Jian, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation who had been missing for several months, and Chen Guoying, General Manager of China Arms Equipment Group, were announced to have been replaced on the same day. However, their whereabouts remain unknown, and the authorities have not mentioned any dismissal regarding them.
Radio Free Asia expert writer Gao Xin stated in an article on April 15 that all these individuals are accomplices in the “rocket military corruption case.” It is certain that there are far more individuals involved in the entire rocket military corruption case, and the exact number of missing persons remains unknown to the public.