China has removed Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command during the 2020 India-China border clashes, from a top political body. This move is part of a broader shake-up of the country's military leadership orchestrated by President Xi Jinping. Zhao Zongqi had authorized the Galwan operation, an event that led to a significant military stand-off with India in eastern Ladakh. While state media reported his removal from the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, no explicit reason was given. The Western Theatre Command, under Zhao, was responsible for the Line of Actual Control with India. His departure follows the removal of other senior military figures, indicating a significant restructuring and consolidation of power within the PLA.

China has removed Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command during the 2020 India-China border clashes, from a top political body. This move is part of a broader shake-up of the country's military leadership orchestrated by President Xi Jinping. Zhao Zongqi had authorized the Galwan operation, an event that led to a significant military stand-off with India in eastern Ladakh. While state media reported his removal from the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, no explicit reason was given. The Western Theatre Command, under Zhao, was responsible for the Line of Actual Control with India. His departure follows the removal of other senior military figures, indicating a significant restructuring and consolidation of power within the PLA.

China has removed Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command during the 2020 India-China border clashes, from a top political body. This move is part of a broader shake-up of the country's military leadership orchestrated by President Xi Jinping. Zhao Zongqi had authorized the Galwan operation, an event that led to a significant military stand-off with India in eastern Ladakh. While state media reported his removal from the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, no explicit reason was given. The Western Theatre Command, under Zhao, was responsible for the Line of Actual Control with India. His departure follows the removal of other senior military figures, indicating a significant restructuring and consolidation of power within the PLA.

China has removed Zhao Zongqi, the former commander of the People's Liberation Army's Western Theatre Command during the 2020 India-China border clashes, from a top political body amid a wider shake-up of the country's military leadership.

Zhao had authorised the Galwan operation to "teach India a lesson". The 2020 Galwan Valley clash led to a prolonged military stand-off between India and China in eastern Ladakh. The two sides have since then taken steps to stabilise relations.

According to media reports, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference voted to strip Zhao of his membership on the Standing Committee of its 14th National Committee.

Chinese state media agencies Xinhua and People's Daily reported Zhao's removal but did not provide an explanation for the decision.

Zhao was the first commander of the Western Theatre Command after it was created as part of the PLA reforms in 2016. The Western Theatre Command is the largest of the PLA's five military theatre commands and is headquartered in Chengdu in Sichuan Province. Under Zhao, it was responsible for overseeing the India-China border along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Zhao remained in charge of the command during the 2020 border clashes. General Zhang Xudong succeeded him in late 2020 after Zhao reached the standard retirement age.

Zhao's removal comes amid a broader shake-up of China's military leadership under President Xi Jinping, which has seen several senior military figures removed. Two senior military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, were removed on Friday.

Zhang was second-in-command under Xi as vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and was also a member of China's Politburo. Liu was a CMC member and chief of staff of the CMC's Joint Staff Department.

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