Thirty-three Expulsions at the Fifth Plenum
More than 25 percent of the original cohort elected in 2022 was absent as the Chinese Communist Party concluded its fifth plenum in Beijing. Just 279 of the 376 full and alternate members of the Central Committee attended the gathering, marking the highest number of empty seats in modern Chinese history.
The record absence reflects an unprecedented purge under Xi Jinping. The gathering saw the expulsion of 33 members and alternate members from the party, including 16 individuals from the military. Among those confirmed expelled were Zhang Youxia, the former second-in-command in the military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary for Xinjiang.
Command Vacancies in the Central Military Commission
The revolving door at the top of the military leadership has left only two members remaining on the seven-person Central Military Commission, including Xi. The five unfilled seats create major gaps in supreme command while the party pushes for military expansion.
The remaining military member is Zhang Shengmin, the military’s anti-graft tsar who was promoted to the Politburo during the plenum. Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at the Asia Society thinktank, observed on X that the empty chairs underscore the plenum’s focus on strict internal discipline.
Since taking power in 2012, Xi has utilized his anti-corruption campaign to punish at least 7.9 million party members and officials. While analysts debate whether the sweep targets political rivals or enforces governance capacity, the restructuring comes as the People’s Liberation Army approaches its 100th anniversary in 2027.
Kylian Mbappé Backlash and the United Front
The political gathering coincided with a separate diplomatic and commercial clash involving French soccer star Kylian Mbappé. Beijing’s foreign ministry framed criticism of Mao as an insult to the Chinese people, demonstrating how the party links state authority with public sentiment.
Preparations for the 21st Party Congress in 2027
The plenum laid the groundwork for the 21st Party Congress scheduled for the second half of 2027. Xi is expected to secure a fourth term as party leader at that event.
Deng Yuwen, a former editor of a communist party newspaper, stated that Xi’s next term is 100 per cent. However, analysts point out that wide-ranging purges have left few suitable candidates to refresh the ranks of the Central Committee and the Politburo.
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