China elevates a military general to the Politburo and seeks to strengthen party discipline

China's top leaders elevated the last remaining general on the military commission to the Politburo on Thursday, aiming to bolster party discipline, according to a report by the Associated Press. The resolution adopted by the party seeks to strengthen self-governance, discipline, and anti-corruption within the Communist Party. The meeting occurred a year before President Xi Jinping is expected to secure his fourth term as party leader.

Gen. Zhang Shengming, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was appointed to the Politburo. Xi had previously removed two top generals, leaving Zhang as the commission's sole member, aside from Xi himself. The party highlighted the "increasingly arduous" tasks ahead, such as uniting and leading the people to protect national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

The resolution emphasized the need for the party to enhance its long-term governance capacity, maintain its progressive nature and purity, and strengthen its close ties with the people. Party members reviewed past purges of top members and military officials, confirming the personnel changes. Zhang also serves as deputy secretary of the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection, overseeing internal discipline within the military.