Record 33 Party Members Ousted as Xi Tightens Discipline at China’s Fifth Plenum

POLICY WIRE — Beijing, China — A historic purge saw 33 Communist Party members removed as the fifth plenum wrapped up, leaving the meeting with the highest number of vacant seats on record.

The gathering drew 279 Central Committee delegates, a steep drop from the 315 who attended the fourth plenum in October 2025 and the 364 present at the third plenum in July 2024.

While earlier sessions emphasized economic reform or social development, this week’s summit placed party discipline at the forefront.

Since assuming power in 2012, Xi Jinping has framed corruption as the “biggest threat” to the party and has made its eradication a cornerstone of his leadership.

According to Zhang Fuhai of the disciplinary commission, more than two million officials have been sanctioned for pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, and the party will intensify efforts so that officials dare not, cannot, and do not want to be corrupt.

Sixteen of the expelled members come from the armed forces, with the official notice citing “serious disciplinary and legal violations” as the generic charge.

Carnegie China scholar Chong Ja Ian observed, “In this case, the campaign will continue and expand depending on how secure Xi feels rather than any real issue with corruption.”

The party’s statement warned that it had “squarely confronted the grim reality that party leadership had at times weakened or hollowed out” and pledged to turn the knife inwards to curb disorder.

Expulsions under Xi’s current term have climbed to a record 51, surpassing the 35 removals in his first term and five in his second.

State anti‑corruption watchdog data show that 680,000 party members faced disciplinary action in the first nine months of this year.

Attendance fell below the 300‑member threshold for the first time in Xi’s 14‑year tenure; the Central Committee began its 2022 term with over 370 members.

Xi treats corruption not only as graft but also as ideological impurity and disloyalty, having warned in January against two‑faced cadres who betray party directives.

Among those expelled are former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui, ex‑top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, each said to have seriously violated [the party’s] discipline and rules.

Analysts from the Asia Society Policy Institute noted, It raises serious questions about organisational leadership and combat readiness, even as China continues to unveil formidable new military hardware.

Vice‑chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang, previously a member of the seven‑person commission, saw the body shrink to just Xi as chairman and Zhang Shengmin as vice‑chairman.

The removal of Ma and Zhang Youxia, both former Politburo members, reduced the 24‑person Politburo to 21 members, a number later restored to 22 when Zhang Shengmin was promoted at the plenum.

Former diplomat Liu Jianchao, who vanished from public view in July last year, was also listed among the purged.

Chong said, “Xi has few qualms about removing people he promoted,” adding, “That he does so at will with little opposition underscores how unassailable his position is at the moment.”

Analysts anticipate a leadership reshuffle in 2027, with many expecting Xi to secure a fourth term—a tenure not seen since Mao Zedong.

Thomas explained that today’s rising stars tend to be younger technocrats linked to Xi’s network, with provincial leadership positions offering a promising recruitment pool.

Observers conclude that Xi will likely dominate personnel decisions at the 21st Party Congress, further cementing his grip; Chong warned, “Xi’s focus is further consolidating power around himself… The readout from the plenum suggests he intends to be at the centre of China and the Communist Party for the foreseeable future,” and cautioned that such concentration could create a power vacuum as Xi ages.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)