The short version
- Attendance at the recent political gathering dropped below three hundred for the first time in fourteen years, reflecting a significant reduction in Central Committee membership.
- Thirty-three officials were expelled during the session, including sixteen military figures, bringing the total number of removals under Xi Jinping’s third term to fifty-one.
- Analysts interpret the crackdown as a consolidation of authority and a purge of potential disloyalty ahead of the 2027 Party Congress leadership vote.
China’s Communist Party concluded its fifth plenum this week with a historic level of internal purging, marking a distinct shift in tone from previous gatherings that prioritized economic and social development. The four-day closed-door session in Beijing resulted in the expulsion of thirty-three members from the Central Committee, a record number for such an event. This wave of removals underscores President Xi Jinping’s continued emphasis on strict party discipline as a central pillar of his governance strategy.
The attendance figures at the plenum highlight the severity of the recent culling. Only two hundred seventy-nine Central Committee members were present, compared to three hundred fifteen at the fourth plenum in late 2025 and three hundred sixty-four in mid-2024. This marks the first time in Xi’s fourteen years of leadership that participation has fallen below the three hundred threshold. The current committee began its term in 2022 with more than three hundred seventy members, indicating a substantial contraction in the party’s core decision-making body over just four years.
The expulsions span multiple sectors of Chinese power, but the military has been particularly affected. Sixteen of the thirty-three removed officials held positions within the armed forces. Among those named are former top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, as well as former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui. Official statements cited serious violations of discipline and rules, language widely interpreted by observers as a euphemism for corruption or political disloyalty. The removal of these high-ranking figures has significantly altered the composition of China’s top military leadership.
The impact on the Central Military Commission is especially notable. Zhang Youxia had served as vice-chairman of this seven-member body, which oversees the armed forces. Following his removal and that of others, the commission was reduced to just two members: Xi Jinping as chairman and Zhang Shengmin as vice-chairman. Zhang Shengmin was subsequently promoted to the Politburo during the plenum, bringing its membership count to twenty-two after earlier vacancies had left it with only twenty-one seats. Analysts from the Asia Society Policy Institute have described this level of military turnover as unprecedented, raising questions about organizational stability and combat readiness despite ongoing advancements in military hardware.
Beyond the immediate expulsions, the broader anti-corruption campaign continues to exert pressure across the party apparatus. China’s top anti-corruption watchdog reported that six hundred eighty thousand individuals within the party have faced disciplinary action in the first nine months of this year alone. The cumulative effect of these measures is stark: fifty-one members have been removed under Xi’s third term, compared to thirty-four in his second and five in his first. This acceleration suggests that the campaign has evolved beyond addressing graft to targeting ideological impurity and perceived disloyalty.
Experts argue that the current focus on discipline serves a strategic purpose ahead of the next major political milestone. The 21st Party Congress, scheduled for 2027, will determine the next leadership cohort, and many analysts expect Xi to secure a fourth term in power. No leader since Mao Zedong has held office for such an extended period. By removing potential rivals or unreliable figures now, Xi aims to consolidate his authority and ensure that the next generation of leaders is firmly aligned with his vision. Chong Ja Ian, a scholar at Carnegie China, noted that the campaign’s intensity appears linked to how secure Xi feels in his position rather than solely to objective corruption levels.
The rhetoric surrounding these purges emphasizes self-governance and internal rectification. Party statements acknowledged that leadership had at times been weakened or hollowed out, pledging to continue enforcing strict controls to curb disorder. Xi has previously warned against two-faced cadres who publicly profess loyalty while acting in their own self-interest. The removal of officials he once promoted, including prominent diplomat Liu Jianchao, demonstrates the reach of this scrutiny. Observers note that Xi faces little opposition in these actions, underscoring his unassailable position within the party hierarchy.
Looking ahead, the focus will likely shift toward identifying and promoting new leaders who fit the current political mold. Analysts suggest that rising stars tend to be younger, possess technocratic backgrounds, and maintain strong connections to Xi’s political network. Provincial leadership ranks are seen as a key source for future appointments. As the party prepares for the 2027 congress, the emphasis on loyalty and discipline is expected to remain central, further cementing Xi’s grip on both the party and the state. The coming years will likely see continued personnel adjustments as the leadership structure solidifies around his authority.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC World↗Record number of purges as Xi emphasises 'party discipline' at China political gathering
