Xi axes Galwan general: Zhao Zongqi removed from China's top advisory body

Chinese general Zhao Zongqi, who commanded the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) Western Theatre Command during the 2017 Doklam standoff and the 2020 Galwan Valley clash with India, has been removed from China's top political advisory body.According to China's state-run Xinhua news agency, Zhao was expelled from the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and two other positions. Beijing, however, did not give a reason for his removal or announce any investigation against him.Zhao's removal comes amid Chinese President Xi Jinping's widening purge of the PLA, which has targeted senior military officers, theatre commands, weapons procurement and defence universities.Xi, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), recently removed two senior military officers, Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, from the CMC.The removal of Zhang and Liu leaves just two active members on the previously seven-member commission, including…