‘Unwritten rules’ become newest target in Communist Party’s war on corruption
The Communist Party of China has pledged to vigorously crack down on the “unwritten rules” that enable corruption in the party, deepening its long-running campaign to keep officials in line. At a Friday press conference, senior officials described the important takeaways from the 20th Central Committee’s Fifth Plenum, which concluded the day before. They underscored President Xi Jinping’s…
China's Communist Party expelled a record number of officials during its recent fifth plenum, reflecting the intensity of Xi Jinping's purges of top officials. At the gathering of high-ranking party members, an unprecedented number of seats remained empty, indicating the extent of the expulsions. Over 25% of the original Central Committee members did not attend the plenum, many due to these purges.
Notable expulsions included Zhang Youxia, a former second-in-command in China's military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary for Xinjiang. The plenum's theme was party governance, and it comes after years of intensified anti-corruption campaigns under Xi. These purges have significantly weakened the military leadership, leaving only Xi and military anti-graft chief Zhang Shengmin in the seven-member Central Military Commission.
The plenum also set the stage for the 21st Party Congress, which is expected to be held in 2027, with Xi aiming to secure a fourth term as party leader. Despite the extensive purges, experts believe the party leadership ranks will be refreshed, but few candidates are considered suitable for promotion.
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