As the Communist Party of China concluded its fifth plenum in Beijing on October 29, 2026, the Central Committee confirmed a record thirty-three expulsions and an unprecedented number of empty seats, signaling an intensified anti-corruption campaign ahead of the 2027 party congress.
The closed-door political gathering brought together only 279 of the 376 full and alternate members originally installed four years prior, leaving more than twenty-five percent of the seats vacant due to purges and unexplained absences according to reporting from The Guardian. This hollowed-out attendance marked the highest number of empty chairs at the plenum in modern Chinese history noted by The Star. Among those confirmed expelled from the party were prominent figures including Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary for Xinjiang, and Zhang Youxia, who served as the second-in-command in the military hierarchy as detailed by The Guardian.
Central Military Commission Purges Leave Only Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin
The personnel upheaval hit the country’s armed forces with particular severity, gutting the seven-man Central Military Commission. Following the expulsion of Zhang Youxia, the ruling military body was left with just two remaining individuals: President Xi Jinping and the military’s anti-graft tsar, Zhang Shengmin reported The Guardian.
China promotes Zhang Shengmin, key player in PLA anti-graft drive, to PolitburoOfficial communique says 21st National Congress next year will be at China’s ‘critical stage’ on journey towards second centenary goal https://t.co/pehezQgXwS via @scmpnews
During the four-day conclave, held from October 26 to 29, 2026, Zhang Shengmin was elevated to the Politburo, filling one of the vacancies typically reserved for military representatives and becoming the sole military member of the senior leadership body according to The Straits Times. Observers noted that the CPC has filed 8.105 million cases and punished 7.922 million people through discipline inspection and supervisory organs across the country since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, as stated by Zhang Fuhai, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC, during a press conference on the guiding principles from the fifth plenary session. Additionally, the communique released at the end of the fifth plenum on Thursday confirmed that Beijing promoted 10 officials to full membership of the Central Committee to fill vacant slots.
Analysts observing the gathering noted that leaving numerous other military and central committee seats vacant suggested a deliberate caution in elevating new personnel stated Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute, to AFP. Jonathan Czin, a fellow at the China Center of the Brookings Institution, observed that the intense focus on self-flagellation and ideological fervor reveals how serious Xi is about incorporating internal discipline into party operations, describing it as a feature of the system rather than a bug.
Today's #MustRead: Xi Jinping fighting corruption, promotes general to politburo, wants to "relentlessly rectify conduct and enforce discipline, unswervingly promote the integrated approach of not daring to be corrupt, not being able to be corrupt and not wanting to be corrupt.”…
Resolutions on Rigorous Self-Governance and the Path to the 2027 Party Congress
The fifth plenum formally adopted a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, emphasizing systematic steps to tackle both the symptoms and root causes of corruption reported The Straits Times. State media communique updates underscored that the meeting also decided the upcoming 21st party congress will take place in the second half of 2027 noted by China Daily, an event where Xi Jinping is widely expected to secure a fourth term as paramount leader stated The Straits Times.
Tightening control, particularly in personnel matters, is an essential preparatory step for Xi to make sure his extension will go completely smoothly.
Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute
Regional leadership also welcomed the conclusions of the Beijing gathering. In Hong Kong, Chief Executive John Lee issued a statement expressing warm congratulations for the successful conclusion of the session reported Bastille Post.
Cadre Compliance and the Risk of Formalism in Local Administration
While the leadership insists the disciplinary drive strengthens governance, academic observers point to unintended administrative consequences down the ranks.
Victor Shih, director of the 21st Century China Center at the University of California, San Diego, noted that wave after wave of officials have been arrested for corruption and malfeasance, reflecting that anti-corruption remains an elusive objective within the system.
The 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has concluded its fifth plenary session, adopting a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance.Communique of the Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of… pic.twitter.com/ehA6cZ1oqY
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has concluded, adopting a resolution on persevering with full and rigorous Party self-governance, the guiding principles for which were highlighted as follows: serving the Party's… pic.twitter.com/t11R5vECgx