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China’s ruling Communist Party has opened a key plenary session with loyalty and discipline taking centre stage as President Xi Jinping’s sweeping anti-corruption campaign continues more than a decade after he came to power.
More than one million people were investigated last year, underscoring the scale of the campaign, which Xi launched after taking office in 2012 with a pledge to root out corruption within the party, The Guardian reported.
Analysts say Xi has turned the anti-corruption drive into a permanent tool of governance. Questions remain over whether those targeted are genuinely corrupt or are also political rivals facing a crackdown.
The fifth plenum, the latest major meeting of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, is seen as a crucial gathering ahead of the 21st Party Congress in 2027, where Xi is widely expected to seek a fourth term as party leader.
The campaign has also reached senior military and political figures. Top general Zhang Youxia has been investigated and expelled from the party, while former Xinjiang party secretary Ma Xingrui and former Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan have also faced disciplinary action, according to reports.
The purges have left only two members on the Central Military Commission, highlighting the extent of the shake-up in China’s military leadership.
Analysts say the investigations demonstrate how anti-corruption enforcement has become a key instrument for Xi to consolidate authority and enforce party unity and discipline. Critics, however, question whether the campaign also serves to sideline potential political challengers.
