China's party plenum confirms 33 expulsions, elevates general to Politburo
China's Communist Party ended a four-day leadership meeting Thursday by promoting Gen. Zhang Shengmin to its Politburo and confirming a wave of expulsions, Reuters, AP and The Straits Times report. Reuters and The Straits Times say 33 officials were expelled. The party set its next congress for late 2027, where Xi Jinping is widely expected to seek a fourth term.
China's Communist Party ended a four-day meeting of its Central Committee Thursday by promoting Gen. Zhang Shengmin to its Politburo and confirming a wave of expulsions, Reuters, AP and The Straits Times report.
Zhang is vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, which runs China's armed forces. Xi Jinping earlier purged two of the country's top generals, leaving Zhang as the only member of the commission besides Xi, AP reports. Zhang also oversees discipline in the military.
The meeting confirmed the expulsion of 33 officials from the party, Reuters and The Straits Times report. They include former Politburo member Ma Xingrui and former senior diplomat Liu Jianchao. Reuters says the list also includes former Politburo member Zhang Youxia and former industry minister Jin Zhuanglong.
Leaders adopted a resolution on "full and rigorous Party self-governance," which means rooting out corruption and keeping members loyal. The party said the tasks it faces are "increasingly arduous," according to a summary from the state Xinhua News Agency cited by AP. It also set the 21st Party Congress for the second half of 2027 in Beijing, Reuters and The Straits Times report. Xi is widely expected to seek a fourth term there.
Only 279 full and alternate members attended, Reuters and The Straits Times report. Reuters, citing a Xinhua summary, says that compares with 376 members named in 2022, the highest absence rate since Mao's era. The Straits Times says turnout was down from 315 at last year's fourth plenum.
Chen Gang of the National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute said the expulsions show Xi has the whole party behind his anti-corruption drive. "This plays an important role in laying the groundwork for Xi to begin a fourth term at the 21st Party Congress," he said in The Straits Times. Other analysts quoted by the paper warned that the loyalty push can make officials more cautious. Analysts cited by AP say the crackdown now also targets underperforming officials.
What we know: The plenum confirmed 33 expulsions, added a general to the Politburo and set the 2027 congress.
What we don't: Who will fill other top posts before the congress.
Where outlets agree Reuters, AP, The Straits Times and Nikkei Asia report the four-day plenum elevated a top military official to the Politburo and confirmed expulsions.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.