Beijing Party Plenum: 33 Senior Members Expelled

The fifth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party ended Thursday in Beijing.

Leaders confirmed the expulsion of 33 senior party members during the three-day session, which began Monday. The meeting served as the party's primary annual gathering for reviewing discipline and governance.

Attendance was lower than previous cycles. Only 279 of the 376 full and alternate central committee members named in 2022 were present. More than a quarter of the committee was absent. Officials believe many of the missing members are currently under investigation.

Specific departures signaled a shift in military and diplomatic leadership. Zhang Youxia, formerly China's most senior military general, was expelled. Liu Jianchao, a senior diplomat previously tipped to be the next foreign minister, also left the party. Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that the military leadership ranks have been almost completely purged in the last three or four years.

General Zhang Shengmin emerged as a notable exception. He was promoted to the Politburo, the group of more than 20 top party officials. Zhang Shengmin has played a key role in the anti-corruption campaign. Thomas said the promotion reinforces the priority of anti-corruption work within the military.

Zhang Fuhai, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, provided data on the campaign's scale. Since 2012, 7.9 million individuals have been punished. Over 960 senior officials are included in that number. Zhang Fuhai told reporters on Friday that eradicating the breeding ground for corruption remains a formidable task.

The meeting focused on strengthening party governance and reducing excessive formalities. Joseph Torigian, a professor of Chinese studies at American University, said the plenum signals preparation for the next party congress. Xi Jinping is expected to seek a fourth term next year. Torigian stated, "This is Xi Jinping setting up for the next party congress next year by ensuring that everybody is on the same page as him."

Thomas said the focus on internal discipline suggests Xi is unlikely to take risks in disputes over Taiwan or the South China Sea until he feels more comfortable with his party. Full decisions from the meeting are expected to be published soon.