The Radical Reading Room

China’s Communist Party has pledged tighter discipline among its officials ahead of its 2027 congress, as confirmed by a resolution adopted during the fifth plenum in Beijing on October 29. The meeting, which concluded with a formal decision to hold the 21st Party Congress in the second half of 2027, emphasized systematic efforts to combat corruption at both structural and individual levels. The resolution calls for 'full and rigorous party self-governance,' with a focus on eliminating root causes of misconduct. A total of 162 full and 117 alternate Central Committee members attended, marking a drop in turnout from the 2025 plenum.

Among the key decisions was the expulsion of 33 party members, including former Politburo members Ma Xingrui and Liu Jianchao. Analyst Chen Gang of the National University of Singapore noted that about one-fifth of the Central Committee’s full members have been removed, a significant shift in the party’s composition. This reflects a sustained anti-corruption drive, particularly targeting officials elevated in the 20th Party Congress.

The plenum also confirmed General Zhang Shengmin’s election to the Politburo, filling a military leadership vacancy. The move signals a continued effort to align party leadership with Xi Jinping’s vision. While the official narrative frames the actions as efforts to strengthen national stability, independent analysis suggests deeper implications for power consolidation.

The timing and scale of these decisions—announced ahead of the 2027 congress, scheduled for the second half of that year—highlight a strategic push to reinforce party loyalty and discipline under Xi’s leadership.