Xi Jinping tightens control: 33 members expelled from the Communist Party of China

At the end of a major political meeting, the Communist Party of China expelled 33 members, the highest number recorded to date. The meeting stressed the importance of party discipline and the fight against corruption.

The fifth plenum was held in Beijing, with 279 members of the Central Committee in attendance, significantly fewer than at previous meetings. For the first time in Xi Jinping’s 14 years in power, fewer than 300 participants attended.

The expulsions come as President Xi steps up efforts to tighten his control over the party and the military. Half of the 33 officials, or 16, were members of the military. They were accused of serious violations of discipline and the law, but no details of the allegations were provided.

Among the prominent figures expelled are Ma Xingrui, former head of the party in Xinjiang, and senior generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli. The list also includes diplomat Liu Jianchao, who has not been seen in public since July last year.

The departures of senior military officials have heightened uncertainty about the direction of China’s military and its combat readiness. The Central Military Commission, which oversees the armed forces, now has only two members: Xi Jinping as chairman and Zhang Shengmin as vice chairman.

Since 2012, Xi has made the fight against corruption one of the main pillars of his governance. Analysts, however, say the campaign is increasingly being used to ensure political loyalty and remove officials seen as disobedient to the leadership.