China’s Communist Party concluded its fifth plenum with an unprecedented number of expulsions and absences, reflecting intensified disciplinary actions under Xi Jinping’s leadership. The gathering, which convenes roughly annually, saw 33 members formally expelled from the party—a record figure. Of the 376 full and alternate members originally named to the Central Committee in 2022, only 279 attended this week’s session, resulting in more than 25% of seats remaining vacant. According to analysts, this represents the most significant number of unexplained absences at such a gathering in contemporary Chinese history.
Among those confirmed expelled were Zhang Youxia, who previously held the second-highest position in China’s military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary overseeing Xinjiang. The plenum’s official theme centered on party governance and internal discipline. Since 2012, when Xi assumed power, anti-corruption efforts have been a stated priority, though observers note the campaign has expanded in recent years to target officials at the highest echelons of both the party and military apparatus.
Xi has characterized the ongoing disciplinary effort as essential to addressing what he views as insufficient party discipline. Earlier this year, he employed the metaphor of removing “sick trees” and described the anti-corruption work as perpetual in nature. The purges have significantly altered the composition of the seven-member Central Military Commission, which oversees the People’s Liberation Army. The body now contains only two members: Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the military’s chief anti-corruption official, who received promotion to the politburo this week.
The plenum established groundwork for the 21st Party congress, a quinquennial event anticipated to occur in the second half of 2027. Xi, already the longest-serving Chinese Communist leader since Mao Zedong, is widely expected to secure a fourth consecutive term as party leader. While the Central Committee and politburo are scheduled for refreshment at the congress, analysts have noted that the scope of recent purges may limit the availability of qualified candidates for advancement to senior positions.
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