China's Communist Party expels 33 officials as Xi tightens grip before 2027 congress

China's 20th Central Committee concluded its fifth plenum in Beijing on Thursday after four days of deliberations, ratifying the expulsion of 33 senior officials from the Communist Party — including 16 military figures — and adopting a resolution to tighten cadre discipline ahead of the 21st Party Congress expected in the second half of 2027.

Among those expelled are generals Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, former Xinjiang party secretary Ma Xingrui, and former head of the party's international relations department Liu Jianchao. The plenum also elevated Zhang Shengmin, vice-president of the Central Military Commission, to the Politburo, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

The session approved a document strengthening internal discipline and the selection, management and supervision of party leaders. "Strict measures will be applied to the training, selection, appointment, management and supervision of cadres," the communiqué stated. It warned that those who "manage and govern the Party poorly or allow serious problems to arise" would face accountability.

The plenum also called for maintaining "high pressure on corruption" and tightening oversight of how senior officials exercise power, linking those goals explicitly to the party's long-term governing capacity.

The choice of theme distinguishes this session from the two previous fifth plenums under Xi, in 2015 and 2020, which approved five-year economic plans. Guidelines for the current 2026–2030 plan were agreed last year, freeing this plenum to focus on personnel discipline in the run-up to the leadership renewal congress.