China's Communist Party expels 33 senior members amid purge

China’s ruling Communist Party has expelled 33 senior members, a move that marks the end of its fifth plenum and deepens the ongoing anti-corruption purge under President Xi Jinping. The decision was announced following a four-day session that began on Monday and concluded on Thursday.

The meeting drew attention to the shrinking ranks of the party’s central leadership. Of the 376 full and alternate central committee members first appointed in 2022, only 279 were present. This absence of more than a quarter of the group suggests that many senior figures are currently under investigation. The plenum served as a final check before the next party congress, where leadership succession issues will likely arise.

Prominent figures lost their standing during this cycle. Zhang Youxia, formerly the most senior military general, and Liu Jianchao, a diplomat previously viewed as a likely next foreign minister, were among those expelled. Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute, noted that the military leadership has been heavily purged in the last three to four years. In contrast, General Zhang Shengmin, a key figure in the anti-corruption drive, was promoted to the Politburo, a body of more than 20 top officials.

Analysts view the plenum as a strategy to align the party before Xi potentially seeks a fourth term. Joseph Torigian, a professor of Chinese studies at American University, stated that Xi is ensuring all members are on the same page ahead of next year’s congress. Thomas added that this internal consolidation may influence Beijing’s willingness to use force in disputes over Taiwan or the South China Sea, as Xi appears cautious until he feels more secure in his party’s loyalty.

The party also emphasized stricter governance and discipline. Zhang Fuhai, Deputy Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, reported to reporters on Friday that 7.9 million individuals have been punished since the campaign began in late 2012. This total includes more than 960 senior officials. He described the fight against corruption as serious and complicated, noting that eradicating its root causes remains a formidable task.

Xi has targeted excessive bureaucracy, which Torigian describes as party language for going through motions without achieving results. To enforce these standards, the plenum mandated more regular reporting from discipline inspectors to central authorities. However, Thomas warned that local officials may become overly cautious to avoid scrutiny, potentially leading to inertia and less experimentation. Full decisions and deliverables from the meeting are expected to be published in the coming days.