Key facts
- China's Communist Party is intensifying its anti-corruption campaign by targeting "unwritten rules".
- The Fifth Plenum focused on party discipline and rigorous self-governance.
- A record 33 members were expelled from the party, including 16 from the military.
- Xi Jinping views corruption as a threat to party loyalty and credibility.
- Over two million individuals have been disciplined for cases related to "pointless formalities, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance" since 2012.
The Communist Party of China is intensifying its anti-corruption campaign by targeting "unwritten rules" that facilitate graft. Senior officials emphasized President Xi Jinping's assertion that sustained pressure is needed to address corruption, which is seen as a threat to party loyalty and credibility. The recent Fifth Plenum focused on rigorous self-governance and party discipline.
At the plenum, which concluded on Thursday, a record 33 members were expelled from the party, including 16 from the military, for "serious disciplinary and legal violations." The party stated it has confronted weakened leadership and will enforce strict self-governance. This brings the total number of members removed under Xi's third term to 51.
Since Xi took power in 2012, over two million individuals have been disciplined for corruption-related cases. The party views corruption not just as graft but also as ideological impurity and disloyalty. Xi has warned that the party could "lose its ruling status" if it fails to address these issues.