China elevates Gen. Zhang to Politburo amid party purge — SkimNews
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- Gen. Zhang Shengmin was elected to the Politburo, becoming the only military representative after a purge left the People's Liberation Army without other representation in the body.
- China's Communist Party adopted a resolution on strengthening self-governance, anti-corruption, and ideological purity, citing increasingly arduous tasks in safeguarding national sovereignty and security.
- Xi Jinping consolidated military influence by elevating Zhang, who serves as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and oversees military discipline, following the removal of two top generals.
- The Central Military Commission now consists only of Xi and Zhang, marking a significant centralization of military leadership under the president.
- Party leaders reviewed and confirmed earlier purges of top military and party officials during a four-day closed-door plenum, signaling continuity in Xi's control mechanisms.
- Analyst Neil Thomas calculated a 74 percent attendance rate at the plenum, the lowest since Mao Zedong's era, suggesting wider-than-expected personnel changes or political exclusions.
Why it matters: Zhang’s elevation restores military presence in the Politburo after a brief absence, but the broader purge and low plenum attendance indicate intensified political consolidation under Xi, raising stakes for elite cohesion ahead of his expected fourth term. The focus on discipline and self-governance reinforces internal control as a priority over institutional diversity.
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