China’s Communist Party concluded its fifth plenum with 33 member expulsions, the highest number ever recorded at such a gathering. The four-day closed-door meeting in Beijing was attended by 279 Central Committee members, marking the lowest attendance in recent years and continuing a declining trend from previous plenums. Of those expelled, 16 held military positions, according to a statement released Thursday.
Xi Jinping has prioritized anti-corruption efforts since taking power, framing them as essential to party stability. However, analysts characterize the campaign as increasingly focused on enforcing loyalty and consolidating authority rather than addressing graft specifically. The expulsions bring the total number of members removed during Xi’s current term to 51, substantially higher than previous terms. Beyond the plenum, the party’s anti-corruption watchdog reported disciplining 680,000 people across the party apparatus in the first nine months of the year.
High-profile removals included former Xinjiang party secretary Ma Xingrui and retired military officials Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, both former Politburo members. The purge of military leadership has drawn particular scrutiny from observers, who note it raises questions about organizational stability. The Central Military Commission, which oversees the armed forces, was reduced to just two active members.
Analysts attribute the intensified emphasis on discipline to preparations for the Party Congress scheduled for 2027, when leadership positions will be determined. Observers expect Xi to seek an unprecedented fourth term, which would exceed the tenure of any leader except party founder Mao Zedong. Xi’s demonstrated willingness to remove officials regardless of their prior support for him underscores his current political dominance, though experts note such concentrated power may create vulnerabilities in the longer term.
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