China strips generals, ex-financial regulator, politburo member

China on Friday stripped six military lawmakers, former financial regulator head Li Yunze and recently probed Politburo member Ma Xingrui of their posts in the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislative body, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The report cited a notice from the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, which provided no reason for the dismissals. There was no immediate comment or response to a request sent to the defense ministry. The removal marks the latest escalation in a years-long anti-corruption campaign initiated by President Xi Jinping that has seen scores of senior officials and top generals investigated, removed and purged. Among the removed military lawmakers in the notice was General Xu Xueqiang, who has been the head of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission, a top military body tasked with overseeing the development, acquisition and testing of equipment for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).