China removes nine military officials ahead of key political meeting

China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee removed 19 officials, including nine from the military, ahead of its annual political meeting next week. The removals were announced by the committee and no official reason was given, but they come after President Xi Jinping removed Zhang Youxia, his highest-ranking general, in recent weeks for "serious violations of discipline and law." This latest purge follows a series of anti-corruption drives targeting high-profile figures in the military. The removals are expected to be discussed at the upcoming Two Sessions, where delegates will gather to discuss China's five-year plan and economic targets.