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## Overview China stripped six military lawmakers of their seats in the national parliament, in the latest sign that President Xi Jinping is continuing a purge of key defense establishment personnel (Bloomberg, June 26). ## Why It Matters The ongoing purge of senior military figures signals continued instability or consolidation efforts within China's defense establishment under Xi. Removal of lawmakers with military ties from the National People's Congress suggests deeper investigations or loyalty concerns extending into the legislative apparatus, not just the PLA command structure. ## Context This purge follows a pattern of recent high-profile removals of Chinese military and defense officials reported over the past several years, raising questions about corruption investigations, succession dynamics, and the PLA's institutional stability. It comes against a backdrop of China's expanding defense budget (1.94 trillion yuan for 2026) and heightened geopolitical tensions, including reported deepening Chinese military support to Iran. ## Entities Involved - Xi Jinping, President of China - Six unnamed military lawmakers stripped of parliamentary seats - China's National People's Congress ## Developments to Watch - Identities and specific allegations against the removed lawmakers - Further purges within the Central Military Commission or PLA leadership - Implications for China's military modernization and command reliability