China’s Communist Party opens its fifth plenum on discipline
China’s Communist Party began a four-day Central Committee meeting in Beijing focused on discipline and internal governance. About 300 senior officials are gathering after corruption investigations left vacancies in the party and military leadership. A draft resolution on rigorous party governance is on the agenda; possible appointments and economic-policy outcomes had not been announced.
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Central Committee opens four days of talks
About 300 senior Chinese Communist Party officials gathered in Beijing on October 26 for the Central Committee’s fifth plenum. The four-day meeting is focused on discipline and internal party governance, with a draft resolution on rigorous party governance among the items for discussion.[1], [2]
The gathering follows corruption investigations that have reached senior party officials and the armed forces. President Xi Jinping has pursued the campaign throughout his 14 years in power. Thousands of officials have been investigated, and a number of Central Committee members have been removed.[1]
Investigations leave gaps in the leadership
The Central Committee has 8 vacant seats, while 15 members are under investigation. The military leadership has also been affected: 5 of the Central Military Commission’s 7 members have been removed. Possible replacements have attracted attention, but no appointments were announced before the plenum.[1]
A January speech by Xi, published ahead of the gathering, warned against officials who appear loyal while resisting internally. The warning accompanies the meeting’s stated emphasis on party discipline; the draft resolution was still to be discussed at the opening of the session.[1]
Policy outcomes remain unannounced
The meeting takes place amid weak domestic spending, difficulties in the property sector and strained relations with the United States. Its announced central business concerns the party’s own governance. The opening reports contained no definitive economic-policy outcome or new military appointment.[1]
