National Defense University Political Commissar Replaced — Zhong Shaojun Removed from Post, Whereabouts Unknown

Illustration: CCP Police Vehicle (China Photos/Getty Images)

[People News]  According to a post on the official WeChat account of the Chinese Embassy in North Korea, on the evening of October 25, the embassy hosted a reception marking the so-called 75th anniversary of the Chinese “Volunteer Army’s” entry into North Korea during the Korean War. More than 140 people attended, including Lieutenant General Xia Zhihe, the political commissar of the National Defence University (NDU), who was visiting North Korea. This indicates that former Navy Command College political commissar Xia Zhihe has replaced Zhong Shaojun as NDU’s political commissar. The CCP has not yet provided any explanation about Zhong Shaojun’s removal or his current position.

According to Hong Kong’s Sing Tao Daily, Lieutenant General Zhong Shaojun previously served as Director of the General Office of the Central Military Commission (CMC) and was transferred last year to serve as NDU’s political commissar. He is an alternate member of the CCP’s 20th Central Committee, and although he attended the Fourth Plenary Session, his current work assignment remains unclear.

Before the plenum, on October 18, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed to The Epoch Times that “a purge of CCP military generals” was underway. Following the official announcement of nine generals’ downfalls, another four lieutenant generals were reportedly dismissed, as well as nine major generals and fifteen brigadier generals—including Zhong Shaojun, the former CMC General Office director and then-current NDU political commissar.

Earlier, on August 30, Cai Shenkun had claimed in his online program—citing inside military sources—that Xi Jinping’s most trusted subordinate from his Zhejiang days, Zhong Shaojun, one of the key members of Xi’s “Zhijiang New Army,” had been removed from his post as NDU political commissar.

Cai also stated that, according to some reports, Zhong Shaojun might be transferred to the Political Work Department of the CMC as Executive Deputy Director, which would suggest he was being reappointed to a position of influence. However, if he were removed from NDU without receiving a new assignment, that would essentially mean his military career had come to an end.

Cai Shenkun has repeatedly disclosed alleged reasons for Zhong Shaojun’s downfall. He said that while Zhong served as director of the CMC General Office, he had frequent dealings with Miao Hua, Director of the CMC Political Work Department, and together they promoted numerous senior military officers, during which Zhong likely accepted significant bribes. After the downfall of former Defence Minister Li Shangfu and multiple senior officers from the Rocket Force, Zhong was reportedly implicated. Consequently, he was demoted to NDU political commissar last year.

Notably, according to Singaporean media reports, on August 18–19, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary for Defence Chan Heng Kee visited Beijing and met with several senior Chinese military officials, including Defence Minister Dong Jun and NDU political commissar Zhong Shaojun. However, news of Zhong’s appearance was apparently censored on the Chinese mainland media.

Public records show that Zhong Shaojun, born in October 1968 in Kaihua, Zhejiang Province, is considered a key member of Xi Jinping’s “Zhijiang New Army.” In June 2013, he became Deputy Director of the CMC General Office and Director of the Office of the CMC Chairman, and in August 2017, he was promoted to Director of the CMC General Office.

On April 26, 2024, reports emerged that Zhong Shaojun had been demoted from his CMC post to serve as Political Commissar of the National Defence University.

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