China’s Communist Party confirmed the expulsion of 33 senior officials, including prominent political and military figures, in what represents the largest purge in the country’s recent history. The announcement followed the conclusion of a four-day meeting of the party’s Central Committee in Beijing, which ended this week. Among those removed were Liu Jianchao, a senior diplomat and former head of the party’s International Department, and Zhong Shaojun, a longtime secretary to President Xi Jinping who served within the Central Military Commission.

The expulsion of 16 military officials highlights a significant reshaping of China’s armed forces leadership. Notable figures included Zhang Youxia, formerly a vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Liu Zhenli, a former Joint Staff Department chief. The military anti-corruption chief, General Zhang Shengmin, was promoted to the Politburo, the party’s top decision-making body, making him the sole military representative among its 22 members. Analysts view these developments as further consolidation of Xi’s control over the military and the party, reflecting tightening discipline and centralized authority.

The Central Committee meeting was marked by a notable drop in attendance, with only 279 officials present out of the 375 members initially appointed in 2022. This decline, according to observers, underscores the scale of recent purges and the party’s intensified focus on internal discipline. Nearly 100 members have been removed from the committee over the last four years.

The party leadership described the expulsions as a necessary response to “serious violations of discipline and law,” though specific accusations against the officials were not disclosed. The meeting emphasized combating corruption, disloyalty, and bureaucratic inefficiency, with calls to strengthen oversight mechanisms and uphold stricter governance standards. Since Xi assumed power in 2012, more than two million party members have faced discipline for misconduct, reflecting an ongoing and expansive anti-corruption campaign.

The Central Committee also set the date for the 21st Party Congress in the second half of 2027, where Xi is expected to secure an unprecedented fourth five-year term as party general secretary. Such a tenure would make him the longest-serving Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The upcoming congress is expected to see a further reshuffling of the party’s leadership ranks, though some analysts warn that the extensive purges may limit the pool of qualified candidates for upcoming promotions.

Overall, the recent expulsions and structural changes underscore Xi Jinping’s continued effort to consolidate power and impose strict discipline within both the party and the military, as he prepares to extend his leadership well into the next decade.