Record number of purges as Xi emphasises 'party discipline' at China political gathering

ByKelly Ng and Ian Tang, BBC Monitoring. 29 October 2026, 11: 34 GMT.

Key points

• Their removal, along with former general He Weidong in 2025, meant the powerful 24-man Politburo was at one point left with 21 members.
• Beyond the plenum, China's top anti-corruption watchdog documented that 680, 000 residents throughout the party apparatus have been disciplined in the first nine months of this year.
• Among the high-ranking authorities expelled are former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui, and ex-top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli.
• A record 33 members have been expelled from China's Communist Party as it concluded a major annual political gathering.
• This is additionally the first time in Xi's 14 years of leadership that plenum attendance fell below 300.

For context, a record 33 members have been expelled from China's Communist Party as it concluded a major annual political gathering. It had the most empty seats ever seen.

Meanwhile, the fifth plenum was attended by 279 Central Committee members, compared to 315 at the fourth plenum in October 2025 and 364 at the third one in July 2024.

While recent plenums focused on economic reforms or social and development problems, party discipline took centre stage at this week's gathering.

Xi Jinping has created the fight against corruption a central pillar of his rule since he took the reins in 2012, calling it the "biggest threat" to the party.

Sixteen of the 33 members expelled are from the military, according to a communique issued on Thursday. It marked the end of the four-day closed-door gathering held at a hotel in Beijing.

It's unclear what specific charges these members face beyond "serious disciplinary and legal violations". Such broad allegations have become routine under Xi's anti-corruption campaign.

It has now become "an effort to consolidate and maintain authority", notes Chong Ja Ian, a non-resident scholar with Carnegie China.

"In this case, the campaign will continue and expand depending on how secure Xi feels rather than any real issue with corruption."

In its statement, the party remarked it has "squarely confronted the grim reality that party leadership had at times weakened or hollowed out" and that it will continue to "enforce strict party self-governance, including turning the knife inwards to. Curb disorder".

In practice, the latest expulsions bring the total number of members removed under Xi's third term to a record 51, up from 35 and five in his first and second terms respectively.

This is additionally the first time in Xi's 14 years of leadership that plenum attendance fell below 300. The current Central Committee began its term in 2022 with more than 370 members.

Observers argue that Xi views corruption not just as graft but additionally ideological impurity and, crucially, disloyalty.

In January, he cautioned against "two-faced cadres" who profess political loyalty but defy orders and act in their self-interest. Who are the key figures purged?

Among the high-ranking authorities expelled are former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui, and ex-top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. Official statements announcing their removal this year remarked they "seriously violating discipline and rules". It is widely read as a euphemism for corruption.

In practice, the culling of the military's top brass has been particularly significant, with Neil Thomas, Lobsang Tsering and Shengyu Wang from the Asia Society Policy Institute describing it as "in a category of its own".

"It raises serious questions about organisational leadership and combat readiness, even as China continues to unveil formidable new military hardware, " they wrote.

Zhang was additionally vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission. It controls the armed forces. The seven-member commission has since been whittled down to just two members: Xi as chairman and Zhang Shengmin vice-chairman.

Ma and Zhang Youxia were former Politburo members. Their removal, along with former general He Weidong in 2025, meant the powerful 24-man Politburo was at one point left with 21 members.

Zhang Shengmin was promoted to the top decision-making body at the fifth plenum, bringing the number to 22.

Former prominent diplomat Liu Jianchao. This person disappeared from public view in July last year, was additionally named among those who have been purged.

"Xi has few qualms about removing people he promoted, " Chong notes. "That he does so at will with little opposition underscores how unassailable his position is at the moment." Xi's intends for the future.

When the CCP will vote again for its next leader, analysts believe one reason for the rose empahsis on discipline – which numerous interpret as loyalty – is next year's Party Congress.

For context, a leadership reshuffle is due in 2027 and plenty of analysts expect Xi to hold on to the top job for a fourth term and beyond. No leader has served that long except Mao Zedong, the founder Communist China.

Xi has reason to "scrutinise the next cohort more closely" given the fall of so plenty of office-holders from the current committee, Thomas notes.

"Today's rising stars tend to be relatively young, boast technocratic backgrounds, and have connections to Xi's political network, " he notes, adding that "provincial leadership ranks are a promising place to look".

Observers say that ultimately, Xi is projected to dominate personnel selection at the 21st Party Congress. It will further cement his grip on the party and the country.

"Xi's focus is further consolidating power around himself. The readout from the plenum suggests he intends to be at the centre of China and the Communist Party for the foreseeable future, " Chong notes.

"However, further down the road, such concentration of power may pave the way for a more serious power vacuum when Xi ages and slows down."

Taken together, the developments around record number of purges as Xi emphasises ' party discipline' at China political point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.