Beijing plenum confirms purge of 33 senior officials as Xi tightens party grip

China's ruling Communist Party has formally expelled 33 senior members during its fifth plenum, a gathering that concluded on Thursday. The meeting, which started on Monday, serves as the party's primary decision-making forum for the year and focused heavily on discipline and anti-corruption measures. Of the 376 central committee members originally appointed in 2022, only 279 were present for the session. The absence of more than a quarter of the membership suggests that many missing members are currently under investigation.

The removals include high-profile figures such as Zhang Youxia, formerly the country's most senior military general, and Liu Jianchao, a diplomat who was previously considered a candidate for foreign minister. Neil Thomas, a senior fellow on Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that the military leadership ranks have been almost completely purged over the last three to four years. In contrast, General Zhang Shengmin, a key figure in the anti-corruption drive, was promoted to the Politburo. This body consists of more than 20 top officials, and his elevation underscores the party's emphasis on cleaning up the military.

Analysts view the plenum as a strategic move to align the party ahead of the next congress, where Xi Jinping is expected to seek a fourth term. Joseph Torigian, a professor of Chinese studies at American University, described the meeting as Xi ensuring that all members are on the same page. Thomas argued that the focus on internal consolidation suggests Xi is unlikely to take aggressive risks in territorial disputes with the United States, particularly regarding Taiwan and the South China Sea, until he feels the party is more stable.

The party also announced efforts to strengthen governance and reduce what it calls pointless formalities. Zhang Fuhai, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, told reporters on Friday that 7.9 million individuals have been punished since 2012. This figure includes over 960 senior officials. He stated that the fight against corruption remains serious and that eradicating its breeding grounds is a formidable task. Torigian explained that the push to eliminate formalities is an attempt to prevent the party from degrading, a fate that has befallen other communist regimes.

New protocols will require discipline inspectors to report more regularly to central authorities to increase scrutiny on local officials. However, Thomas warned that this increased oversight could lead to inertia. Local officials may choose to play it safe to avoid the attention of the discipline system, potentially reducing experimentation and counteracting Xi's intended goals. Political watchers do not expect Xi to name a successor at the next party congress. Full decisions and deliverables from the plenum are expected to be published in the coming days.