By Basant El-Faramawy
China expelled a record 33 members from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) at the conclusion of the fifth plenum this week, leaving an unprecedented number of empty seats that underscore the scale of President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign.
Unprecedented Absences at Fifth Plenum
Only 279 of the 376 full and alternate members of the CCP Central Committee attended the gathering, meaning more than 25% of the original cohort were absent. The confirmed expulsions included Zhang Youxia, formerly the second-ranking official in the military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary of Xinjiang. Other absences were not officially explained.
Intensified Crackdown on Military and Party Leadership
The purges have gutted the seven-member Central Military Commission, leaving only Xi and the military’s anti-graft chief, Zhang Shengmin. Zhang was promoted to the Politburo this week, becoming the sole military representative on the party’s top ruling body. Analysts say the empty chairs highlight the plenum’s focus on strict internal discipline under Xi’s vision.
Groundwork for 2027 Party Congress
The plenum also laid the groundwork for the 21st Party Congress, expected in the second half of 2027, where Xi is widely anticipated to secure a fourth term as party leader. That would make him the longest-serving ruler of Communist China since Mao Zedong. However, the wide-ranging purges have left few suitable candidates for promotion to the Central Committee and Politburo, analysts warn.
