The recent four-day gathering in Beijing concluded with the removal of top figures, including former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui and prominent generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. These high-level military expulsions dramatically reshaped the Central Military Commission, leaving it with only Xi and newly promoted Politburo member Zhang Shengmin. Alongside these elite dismissals, China's anti-corruption watchdog disciplined 680,000 personnel throughout the wider party apparatus within the first nine months of the year. The party reaffirmed its commitment to aggressive self-governance to eradicate weakened leadership and organizational disorder.
Key points
The sweeping anti-corruption effort addresses ideological impurity and organizational dis…: The sweeping anti-corruption effort addresses ideological impurity and organizational disloyalty rather than purely targeting financial graft.
Severe personnel reductions in top decision-making bodies have substantially consolidated…: Severe personnel reductions in top decision-making bodies have substantially consolidated executive and military control under Xi Jinping.
Party leadership is enforcing rigorous internal discipline as observers expect Xi to purs…: Party leadership is enforcing rigorous internal discipline as observers expect Xi to pursue an unprecedented fourth term in 2027.
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- Published
A record 33 members have been expelled from China's Communist Party as it concluded a major annual political gathering, which had the most empty seats ever seen.
The fifth plenum was attended by 279 Central Committee members, compared to 315 at the fourth plenum in October 2025 and 364 at the third one in July 2024.
While recent plenums focused on economic reforms or social and development issues, party discipline took centre stage at this week's gathering.
Xi Jinping has made the fight against corruption a central pillar of his rule since he took the reins in 2012, calling it the "biggest threat" to the party.
Anti-corruption purges continue
Sixteen of the 33 members expelled are from the military, according to a communique issued on Thursday, which marked the end of the four-day closed-door gathering held at a hotel in Beijing.
It's unclear what specific charges these members face beyond "serious disciplinary and legal violations". Such broad allegations have become routine under Xi's anti-corruption campaign.
It has now become "an effort to consolidate and maintain authority", says Chong…
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