China’s Communist Party expelled 33 of its members during the fifth plenum of the Central Committee. Those affected included former vice-chair of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia and former party secretary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region Ma Xingrui, The Guardian reports.
In total, 279 full and alternate members of the Central Committee attended the meeting out of 376 who had been on its rolls after approval in 2022. As a result, more than 25% of the original membership was absent. The reasons for the absence of some officials were not officially explained.
The sweeping personnel changes are taking place against the backdrop of an anti-corruption campaign led by China’s leader Xi Jinping, who has been in charge since 2012. In recent years, it has reached the highest echelons of the party and military leadership.
At the same time, analysts note that the fight against corruption may be used not only to tighten discipline, but also to remove political rivals and punish disloyal officials.
In particular, the purges have significantly reduced the membership of the Central Military Commission, the body that oversees the People’s Liberation Army. At present, only two members remain: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin, who is responsible for anti-corruption efforts in the military.
During the plenum, Zhang Shengmin was promoted to the Politburo of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee. He became the only military representative in this governing body.
The plenum also laid the groundwork for the 21st Congress of the Communist Party of China, expected in the second half of 2027. The membership of the Central Committee and the Politburo is due to be renewed then.
Xi Jinping is expected to seek a fourth term as the party’s leader. If re-elected, he would become the longest-serving leader of communist China since Mao Zedong.