One of the Chinese government’s top political institutions has removed a prominent rocket research chief, adding to the number of apparent purges in Beijing over the past several months. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference revoked the membership of Wang Xiaojun during a Monday meeting, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, without giving a reason.Wang led the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology from June 2019 through at least mid-2023. The institute touts itself as the nation’s oldest and largest base for the development, testing and production of missile weapons and launch vehicles, according to its official website. Wang’s removal marks the latest sign of turmoil in China’s defence establishment. Beijing has now unseated at least 16 military figures in the past six months. Their ousters have been left unexplained but come amid reports of graft probes in the PLA and the rocket force in particular. US intelligence indicates that graft has undermined the military’s capabilities, including vast fields of missile silos in western China with lids that don’t function in a way that would allow the missiles to launch effectively, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month.