China’s Communist Party has expelled 33 officials following a major four-day meeting of its Central Committee, in what has been described as a record number of removals at such a gathering.
The expulsions were formally ratified at the party’s fifth plenum, which concluded on October 29. The meeting also endorsed stronger internal discipline and continued anti-corruption efforts, priorities that have defined President Xi Jinping’s leadership.
According to The Guardian’s report, the 33 officials were expelled as Xi’s campaign increasingly targets senior figures within the party and military establishment.
Senior Military Figures Among Those Removed
Among the officials whose expulsions were confirmed were Zhang Youxia, previously the second-ranking figure in China’s military leadership, and Ma Xingrui, a former party secretary of the Xinjiang region.
The removals have also significantly affected the Central Military Commission, the body responsible for overseeing China’s armed forces.
The Associated Press reported that the party meeting ratified the expulsion of more than 30 senior officials, including a former top military general. The remaining military oversight leadership has also undergone changes, with anti-graft official Zhang Shengmin promoted to the Politburo.
Record Absences at Party Meeting
The meeting also recorded an unusually high number of absences among members of the Central Committee.
Of the 376 members named in 2022, only 279 attended the gathering, leaving 97 absent. This represents approximately 25.8 per cent of the membership.
Reuters reported that the absence rate was the highest in the post-Mao era. While some absences were linked to officials who had been removed, the reasons for every missing member were not publicly disclosed.
Xi’s Anti-Corruption Campaign Continues
Xi has pursued an extensive anti-corruption campaign since taking power in 2012, targeting officials across government, the party and the military.
The Associated Press reported that Chinese authorities said disciplinary agencies had opened 8.1 million cases and punished 7.9 million people since Xi became president, including 963 senior officials.
The party leadership has defended the campaign as necessary to address corruption, strengthen discipline and protect the organisation. However, analysts have also raised questions about the concentration of power and the potential effect of repeated purges on the country’s leadership succession and governance.
The fifth plenum also began preparations for the 21st Party Congress, expected in the second half of 2027. Xi is widely expected to seek another five-year term, which would extend his leadership into a fourth term.
