China's Fifth Plenum Sees Record 33 Expulsions, Military Command Shrank to Two

China's Communist Party concluded its fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee, resulting in the expulsion of 33 senior officials, the highest number at a single plenum. Among them, 16 were from the military, including Gen. Zhang Youxia, who was previously Xi's closest military ally.

The party announced it was 'turning the blade inward' to 'eliminate serious hidden dangers.' This purge is expected to continue as the 2027 leadership congress approaches, where Xi is likely to seek a fourth term.

Zhang Fuhai, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, reported that since the 18th Party Congress in 2012, nearly 8 million people were punished, including 963 senior officials. The CCDI pledged to intensify its anti-corruption efforts using technology.

Among the expelled were Ma Xingrui, former Politburo member and Xinjiang party boss; Liu Jianchao, former head of the party's International Department; and Lan Tianli, former chairman of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The aerospace and defense sectors were heavily impacted, with several high-ranking officials removed.

The Central Military Commission, which oversees the PLA, now has only two members remaining: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin. Five of the seven seats are vacant, with no new appointments made during the plenum. Zhang Shengmin, who led the military's anti-corruption efforts, was promoted to the Politburo.

The plenum also saw the lowest attendance since the Cultural Revolution, with only 279 of the 205 full members and 117 alternates present. This reflects the party's focus on internal discipline and the purge of perceived disloyalty. The Central Committee will rubber-stamp the 2027 leadership lineup.