China expels 33 officials in biggest purge under Xi — SkimNews
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- Xi Jinping has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign over more than a decade, resulting in the punishment of 7.9 million people since 2012, according to the CCDI.
- Central Committee concluded a four-day plenum adopting measures for 'full and rigorous governance of the party,' focusing on curbing corruption among cadres.
- 33 officials were expelled from the Communist Party in a single announcement—the largest such group in over a decade—including former Politburo member Zhang Youxia.
- Zhang Youxia, once China's highest-ranking general, was removed following a months-long graft investigation, with his expulsion confirmed after the plenum.
- Ma Xingrui, a former top Xinjiang official, was also ousted over allegations including bribery, nepotism, and paying for sex, with all posts previously stripped.
- Zhang Shengmin, Xi’s top anti-graft enforcer in the military and CMC vice-chair, was promoted to the Politburo during the same meeting.
Why it matters: The simultaneous purge of 33 elites and promotion of Xi's loyalist Zhang Shengmin consolidates political control ahead of the 2027 Party Congress, signaling that anti-corruption actions serve both cleanup and power-balancing functions, with direct implications for military and regional leadership succession.
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