Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown in the spotlight as China prepares for meeting of top leaders

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   China Communist Party Opens Fifth Plenum Amid Sweeping Purges

   Chinese Communist Party elites gathered in Beijing for the fifth plenum, focusing heavily on party discipline, loyalty to Xi Jinping, and an ongoing anti-corruption campaign. The meeting featured an unprecedented number of empty seats symbolizing mass expulsions of officials. Analysts and observers noted that Xi's long-running crackdown has increasingly become a tool to consolidate authority and ensure absolute obedience. The gathering comes ahead of next year, when Xi is widely expected to seek a fourth term in power.

   Why it matters

   The fifth plenum arrives against the backdrop of a 14-year anti-corruption campaign that has targeted over 1 million people, including dozens of Central Committee members, military generals, spy chiefs, and even anti-graft officials. Recent high-profile disappearances, such as Beijing's deputy mayor shortly after meeting with business executives, highlight the pervasive reach of the purge. Some analysts question whether the primary driver remains corruption control or the elimination of perceived political disloyalty.

   What is confirmed

   • The Chinese Communist Party opened its fifth plenum with a focus on party discipline, loyalty to Xi Jinping, and fighting corruption.
   • Xi Jinping has led an anti-corruption campaign spanning 14 years that has investigated over 1 million people and purged thousands of officials.
   • The Communist Party expelled 33 members in a major purge surrounding the political meeting.
   • The anti-corruption drive has ensnared senior figures including a former top judge, a spy chief, dozens of military generals, and anti-graft officials.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The anti-corruption crackdown may be primarily motivated by a lack of political loyalty rather than financial corruption.

   What to watch next

   • Official communiques detailing disciplinary actions and leadership decisions from the fifth plenum
   • Announcements regarding potential structural changes or personnel shifts ahead of next year's leadership decisions
   Sources used for this update (22)

   1. www.theguardian.com — AI godfather Geoffrey Hinton: ‘We’re creating alien beings. I’m willing to be selfish and choose humans’ | Donald Trump
   2. The Economist — China’s party elite gathers with purges and promotions in mind
   3. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace — The Spring and Autumn of Chinese Politics
   4. South China Morning Post — How China’s regional leadership changes offer clues to the party’s future
   5. Brookings — Xi’s party: What to look for at the upcoming Chinese Communist Party plenum
   6. Bloomberg.com — Why Xi Is Using China’s Fifth Plenum to Tighten Party Control
   7. The Guardian — Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown in the spotlight as China prepares for meeting of top leaders
   8. Reuters — China's Communist Party opens fifth plenum
   9. Al Jazeera — China’s political elite gather for talks on Communist Party discipline
   10. South China Morning Post — Communist Party opens fifth plenum with focus on discipline and loyalty to Xi
   11. BBC — China's big political meeting could see Xi 'tighten discipline' in Party
   12. The Economist — China’s leaders gather for the fifth plenum
   confidence 95%