Xi Jinping elevates general who led purge of China’s military
Zhang Shengmin appointed to Communist Party politburo as it moves to tighten discipline and crack down on corruption
China has appointed General Zhang Shengmin, the military official who spearheaded President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign within the armed forces, to the Communist Party's Politburo. This promotion grants Zhang a direct role in China's decision-making process and marks the first time a military representative has joined the Politburo since 1994.
The Politburo now consists solely of military figures, with Zhang as the only one, and Xi Jinping himself. This appointment reinforces Xi's efforts to place the military under tighter political control, particularly as Xi prepares for a possible fourth term as party general secretary in 2027. The move comes amid a significant purge of high-ranking military officials, including the removal of Zhang Youxia, formerly the second-highest ranking military official after Xi.
The purge has left the seven-member Central Military Commission with just Zhang and Xi. The Communist Party's recent communiqué emphasized the importance of enforcing party discipline and intensifying the anti-corruption campaign.
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