Xi Jinping’s China purge has reached an unprecedented scale, with 33 officials expelled from the ruling Communist Party as the Chinese leader intensifies his crackdown on senior figures, leaving a record number of empty seats at a major political gathering.
The expulsions were confirmed during this week’s fifth plenum, a gathering of senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) that takes place roughly once a year.
The meeting exposed the extent of the changes within the party’s leadership. Only 279 full and alternate members of the Central Committee attended, compared with the 376 originally named to the body in 2022.
More than a quarter of the original membership was absent, with many of the departures linked to the ongoing purges. The number of empty seats represents the highest recorded at a plenum in modern Chinese history.
Among the officials whose expulsions were confirmed were Zhang Youxia, formerly the second-highest-ranking figure in China’s military hierarchy, and Ma Xingrui, the former Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang.
While the circumstances surrounding some other absences remain unexplained, the latest figures provide a striking indication of how extensively Xi’s campaign has affected the party’s senior ranks.
Xi Jinping’s China purge exposes deepening divisions in the leadership
The scale of the removals has drawn attention to Xi’s determination to enforce strict discipline throughout the Communist Party.
Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at the Asia Society thinktank, highlighted the significance of the missing officials following the gathering.
“More empty seats underscores the plenum’s focus on Xi’s vision of strict internal discipline,” Thomas said in a post on X.
The fifth plenum focused on party governance, an issue that has become increasingly important under Xi, who assumed power in 2012 and has since made the fight against corruption a defining feature of his administration.
However, the campaign has intensified in recent years, extending beyond lower-ranking officials to prominent figures within the political and military establishments.
The removal of individuals who previously occupied powerful positions has generated questions about whether the crackdown is solely intended to eliminate corruption or also serves as a means of removing political rivals and punishing perceived disloyalty.
Although the confirmed expulsions do not establish the motivations behind every removal, the increasing number of senior officials affected has intensified scrutiny of the campaign.
Xi insists corruption must be uprooted from the party
Xi has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with what he considers inadequate discipline among members of the Communist Party.
Earlier this year, he called for the party to uproot “sick trees”, insisting that the battle against corruption would remain a continuing responsibility.
He described the anti-corruption campaign as a “never-ending journey”, signalling that his administration does not intend to relax its enforcement efforts.
The message reflects Xi’s belief that corruption threatens the authority and effectiveness of the ruling party.
Since becoming China’s leader, he has overseen investigations and disciplinary actions affecting officials across the political system.
In recent years, however, the campaign has increasingly reached the highest levels of the party and military, creating uncertainty among senior officials.
The latest expulsions have reinforced the impression that even powerful positions offer little protection against the ongoing crackdown.
The campaign has also raised questions about the relationship between internal discipline and political loyalty, particularly as influential officials continue to disappear from the party’s leadership structures.
China’s military leadership suffers major setback
The military has been one of the most heavily affected institutions under the ongoing crackdown.
Successive purges have dramatically reduced the membership of the Central Military Commission, the ruling body responsible for directing China’s People’s Liberation Army.
Following the latest removals, only two members remain on the commission: Xi Jinping himself and Zhang Shengmin, the military’s senior anti-graft official.
The development represents a significant shake-up within an institution that occupies a central position in China’s political and defence structures.
The Central Military Commission oversees the armed forces and operates under the authority of the Communist Party. Its leadership is therefore crucial to maintaining the party’s control over the military.
The departure of so many senior figures raises questions about continuity, command structures and the availability of experienced officers to fill vacant positions.
It also demonstrates how far Xi’s anti-corruption campaign has penetrated the military establishment.
For the Chinese leadership, ensuring the loyalty and discipline of the armed forces remains essential to the party’s continued control of the country.
However, rebuilding the senior military leadership after successive removals could present significant challenges.
Zhang Shengmin promoted as military purge continues
Amid the extensive changes, Zhang Shengmin was promoted to the Communist Party’s Politburo during the fifth plenum.
The promotion makes him the only military representative in the party’s senior ruling body.
Zhang’s elevation is particularly significant because he serves as the military’s leading anti-graft official at a time when the armed forces have experienced sweeping leadership changes.
His new position places him among the most influential figures in the party’s senior hierarchy.
The development also highlights the growing importance of anti-corruption enforcement within China’s military establishment.
With the Central Military Commission reduced to just two members, the task of restoring its leadership structure is likely to become an important priority.
The party will need to identify replacements capable of maintaining military effectiveness while meeting the strict political and disciplinary expectations established under Xi.
Zhang Youxia and Ma Xingrui among prominent officials expelled
The confirmed expulsions of Zhang Youxia and Ma Xingrui have attracted particular attention because of their former positions.
Zhang was previously the second-highest-ranking figure in China’s military hierarchy, placing him among the most powerful officials overseeing the country’s armed forces.
His removal is especially significant given the wider changes affecting the Central Military Commission.
Ma Xingrui, meanwhile, formerly served as the Communist Party secretary of Xinjiang, a strategically important region in western China.
His expulsion demonstrates that the crackdown extends beyond military commanders to senior figures within regional party administration.
Although 33 expulsions were confirmed at the fifth plenum, not every unexplained absence should automatically be interpreted as an expulsion.
The authorities have not provided explanations for all the missing officials, leaving some uncertainty about their circumstances.
Nevertheless, the overall figures underline the extent of the personnel changes that have taken place since the Central Committee was constituted in 2022.
2027 Communist Party congress approaches amid uncertainty
The fifth plenum also laid the groundwork for the 21st Communist Party congress, which is expected to take place in the second half of 2027.
The congress is held every five years and provides an opportunity for the party to renew its senior leadership and determine the composition of its principal governing institutions.
Xi is expected to seek a fourth term as party leader, potentially extending his tenure and making him the longest-serving ruler of Communist China since Mao Zedong.
The next congress is expected to bring changes to the membership of both the Central Committee and the Politburo.
However, analysts believe the extensive nature of the recent purges may have reduced the number of suitable candidates available for promotion.
The party faces the challenge of replacing officials who have been removed while maintaining institutional experience and continuity.
The vacancies created by the crackdown could therefore complicate the process of assembling the next generation of senior political and military leaders.
The 2027 congress will provide an important indication of how Xi intends to manage the leadership changes and whether the party can replenish its senior ranks without compromising his emphasis on strict discipline.
Does the crackdown strengthen Xi’s grip on power?
The continuing expulsions have renewed debate about the wider political implications of Xi’s anti-corruption campaign.
The Chinese leadership maintains that the crackdown is necessary to eliminate corruption, strengthen governance and ensure that officials remain accountable to the party.
Xi has consistently argued that corruption and indiscipline threaten the organisation’s authority and must be confronted.
However, the removal of influential officials from the military and political establishment has led analysts to question whether the campaign also serves to consolidate Xi’s personal authority.
The increasing number of senior figures affected has made the issue particularly significant, especially as the country approaches another leadership transition.
While the available information does not establish that every removal is politically motivated, the campaign has undeniably reshaped important institutions within China’s governing system.
The challenge now is to maintain an experienced leadership capable of running the party, government and military while continuing the crackdown.
The record number of empty seats at the fifth plenum has provided a powerful illustration of the scale of the changes.
As preparations begin for the 2027 congress, Xi faces the task of filling the vacancies created by the purges while maintaining the strict internal discipline that has become a defining feature of his leadership.
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