Key facts
- A record 33 members were expelled from China's Communist Party.
- Plenum attendance fell to 279 members, the lowest in Xi Jinping's 14-year leadership.
- 16 of the expelled members are from the military.
- Former Xinjiang party chief Ma Xingrui and ex-top generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli were among those purged.
A record 33 members have been expelled from China's Communist Party following its major annual political gathering, which saw a significant drop in attendance. The four-day closed-door meeting in Beijing concluded on Thursday with a communique emphasizing strict party discipline and self-governance. This marks the first time in Xi Jinping's 14-year leadership that plenum attendance fell below 300, with 279 members present. The expulsions, which include high-ranking military officials and former Politburo members, are seen as part of Xi's ongoing anti-corruption campaign, which critics argue is also used to consolidate power and ensure loyalty. Zhang Shengmin, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, was elevated to the Politburo.