Xi expels 33 party members as attendance at key meeting falls below 300
China’s Communist Party has expelled 33 members, a record number, as President Xi Jinping made party discipline the focus of a major political gathering. Attendance at the four-day meeting fell to 279 Central Committee members, the first time in Xi’s 14 years as leader that fewer than 300 attended.
Sixteen of those expelled were from the military, including former top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli; former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui and diplomat Liu Jianchao were also named. The expulsions bring the total removed during Xi’s third term to 51, compared with 34 in his first term and five in his second. China’s anti-corruption watchdog says 680,000 people across the party apparatus were disciplined in the first nine months of the year, while the military’s Central Military Commission has been reduced to Xi and one other member.
In short
- China expelled 33 party members, a record.
- Only 279 Central Committee members attended.
- The military’s top commission is down to two members.
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The case for
Supporters can argue that removing senior officials, including generals, shows that no one is above party rules and that corruption or disloyalty in strategically important institutions must be addressed. Strong discipline may help restore public trust, improve the military’s effectiveness and ensure officials carry out decisions consistently.
The case against
Critics can argue that the scale of the expulsions and the sharp fall in attendance point to instability and weakened confidence within the party, especially as the military leadership is reduced to two people. If discipline is enforced selectively or used to sideline rivals, it could concentrate power around Xi, discourage candid advice and make institutions less accountable.
Explained simply
The Chinese Communist Party runs China’s political system, and its Central Committee is a senior group that helps set the party’s direction. It meets at major gatherings to discuss policy and leadership matters; attendance can be affected when members are removed or unable to take part.
Xi Jinping is China’s president and the party’s leader, with authority over its anti-corruption campaign and the armed forces. Party discipline includes investigations and punishments for members accused of breaching party rules, including senior officials and military leaders.
The armed forces are under the party’s control, so changes among their leaders can affect how the military is governed. The scale of disciplinary action and the reduced membership of the Central Military Commission have drawn attention to how power and oversight are organised under Xi.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Record number of purges as Xi emphasises ‘party discipline’ at China political gathering”.