Record number of members expelled from the Chinese Communist Party

The Chinese Communist Party has expelled 33 officials, 16 of whom came from military structures, as part of a broad campaign to enforce discipline and combat corruption. The decision was announced on Thursday, October 29, following the fifth plenary session of the Central Committee, held in China.

Those removed include Zhang Youxia, former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and one of China’s most powerful generals, as well as Liu Zhenli, former chief of the Joint Staff Department. The list also includes Ma Xingrui, former Communist Party leader in Xinjiang, along with former officials responsible for the party’s industry, finance and international relations.

Following the expulsions, the Central Military Commission was left with only two active members: Xi Jinping and General Zhang Shengmin, who was also promoted to the Politburo on Thursday. The move comes as Beijing modernizes its military and ahead of the 2027 congress, at which Xi is expected to seek a fourth five-year term.

The scale of the purges was also reflected in attendance at the plenary session. Only 279 members were present, the lowest attendance rate recorded at such a forum in the period since Mao Zedong. The meeting also adopted a resolution to strengthen internal discipline and intensify the fight against corruption.