Record Expulsions Mark Xi’s Fifth Plenum as Party Seats Remain Empty
A historic 33 officials were expelled from the CCP at the fifth plenum, leaving more than a quarter of the Central Committee absent.
Unprecedented Empty Chairs at the Fifth Plenum
The fifth plenum of the Chinese Communist Party concluded with a record 33 members expelled, creating the largest number of vacant seats ever recorded at such a gathering. Only 279 of the 376 full and alternate members named in 2022 were present, meaning more than 25 % of the original cohort were absent, many due to purges.
High‑Profile Figures Among the Expelled
Among those confirmed expelled were Zhang Youxia, who previously served as the second‑in‑command to the nation’s top leader in the military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary for Xinjiang. Other absences were not explained.
Implications for Party Discipline
Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at the Asia Society, noted on X that “more empty seats underscores the plenum’s focus on Xi’s vision of strict internal discipline.” The plenum’s theme was party governance, reflecting Xi’s long‑standing anti‑corruption drive that has intensified in recent years.
Military Leadership Shrinks to Two
The series of purges has reduced the seven‑member Central Military Commission to just two individuals: President Xi Jinping and the anti‑graft chief Zhang Shengmin. Zhang was promoted to the politburo this week, becoming the only military member of the party’s senior leadership body.
Looking Ahead to the 21st Party Congress
The plenum also set the stage for the 21st Party Congress, scheduled for the second half of 2027. Xi, already the longest‑serving ruler of Communist China since Mao Zedong, is expected to secure a fourth term as party leader. Analysts warn that the breadth of recent purges may leave few qualified candidates for the upcoming refresh of the Central Committee and politburo.
