Zhao Zongqi, Former PLA Western Theatre Commander, Removed from CPPCC

Exam-focused facts from the 30 August 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Zhao Zongqi was stripped of his membership of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and removed from two other positions.
He served as the first commander of the reorganised Western Theatre Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) from February 2016.
He led the PLA during the 2017 Doklam standoff and the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with India.
He was replaced as Western Theatre commander in December 2020 after reaching retirement age.
His removal is part of a broader anti-corruption purge of senior military officers under President Xi Jinping.