Key facts
- 25.8% of the original Central Committee cohort was absent from the conclave.
- 33 officials, including former Politburo members Ma Xingrui and Zhang Youxia, were expelled.
- Five of the seven members of the Central Military Commission appointed in 2022 were purged.
A Chinese Communist Party conclave focused on internal discipline this week saw a record number of senior officials expelled and the highest ever absence rate among leadership body members. The gathering also set the 21st Party Congress for the second half of 2027 in Beijing, marking the start of proceedings for President Xi Jinping's expected continuation in power. The closed-door meeting of the Central Committee, the party's largest decision-making body, had 25.8% of its original cohort absent, many due to purges stemming from Xi's anti-corruption campaign. Despite the significant leadership changes, the party presented a unified front, emphasizing discipline and stability.