Chinese President Xi Jinping has escalated his long-standing anti-corruption campaign, leading to the expulsion of 33 prominent members of the Communist Party. The move was confirmed during a four-day, closed-door meeting of the Central Committee in Beijing, where the party cited "serious disciplinary and legal violations" as the primary reason for the removals. This purge represents one of the most significant efforts to address institutional conduct within the ruling party in recent years, with the leadership calling for a "self-revolution" to eliminate what officials described as "viruses" undermining the party's health.
Among those expelled are high-ranking figures, including former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui, influential diplomat Liu Jianchao, and top-level military officers such as former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. The military sector has been particularly impacted, with 16 of the 33 expelled individuals belonging to the armed forces. The CMC, which serves as the supreme body overseeing China's military, is now left with only two members: President Xi Jinping, who acts as chairman, and Zhang Shengmin, the vice-chairman. Zhang Shengmin was notably elevated to the 24-member Politburo during the plenum, becoming the sole military representative on the governing body.
The plenum itself saw a historic level of absenteeism. Data indicated that only 279 members were present, a sharp decline from the 315 who attended the October 2025 gathering and the 364 present in July 2024. Since the current Central Committee began its term in 2022 with over 370 members, the ongoing crackdown has steadily reduced its ranks. According to figures reported by the BBC, China’s primary anti-corruption watchdog has disciplined approximately 680,000 people within the party apparatus in the first nine months of the current year alone.
Xi, who assumed power in 2012, has consistently framed anti-corruption efforts as a core pillar of his governance. However, political analysts suggest that the campaign has evolved into a strategic tool for enforcing absolute political obedience and centralizing power. By urging officials to "turn the blade inward," Xi appears to be reinforcing the requirement for total ideological purity. The party leadership maintains that these measures are necessary to strengthen long-term governing capacity and preserve close ties with the public.
The timing of this purge is widely viewed as a precursor to the Communist Party Congress scheduled for late 2027. This upcoming event will be pivotal in determining the next leadership structure, with expectations that Xi will pursue a fourth term in office. Scholars, such as Chong Ja Ian from Carnegie China, have noted that the drive is increasingly focused on authority consolidation rather than merely addressing financial misconduct. The crackdown has not been limited to political and military circles; it has also impacted business executives, prompting discussions regarding the broader influence of these policies on China's domestic business environment.
Moving forward, the party has issued resolutions demanding stricter internal discipline and enhanced anti-corruption enforcement. With the military ranks thinned and the leadership structure under heavy scrutiny, the focus remains on how these personnel shifts will affect the operational readiness of the People's Liberation Army and the stability of the central government as it nears the 2027 reshuffle. The party’s emphasis on "ideological purity" signals that further vetting of officials is likely as the leadership works to ensure total alignment with its directives.
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