Xi Jinping's Purge Deepens: 33 CCP Central Committee Members Expelled
Xi Jinping intensifies his purge of the CCP, expelling 33 Central Committee members and leaving top military bodies incomplete.
In a sweeping move that signals a deepening political crackdown, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has expelled 33 out of 34 members of its Central Committee whose disciplinary cases were reviewed during the Fifth Plenum. This massive purge, led by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, has sent shockwaves through the party's upper echelons and raised serious concerns about the stability of China's political and military leadership.
Military-Industrial Titans Fall
The purge has hit the military-industrial sector particularly hard. Several high-ranking officials, many of whom had vanished from public view for months, have now been officially removed. Among the most prominent figures expelled are:
- Yuan Jie: Former chairman of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation.
- Wen Gang: Former chairman of the China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
- Yu Jianfeng: Former chairman of the China National Nuclear Corporation, who reportedly disappeared after activities during the 2025 Chinese New Year.
- Lei Fanpei: Executive deputy director of the Office of the Central Commission for Integrated Military and Civilian Development.
- Jin Zhuanglong: Former Party Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
- Zhang Zhongyang: Former general manager of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
Both Yuan Jie and Wen Gang served as alternate members of the Central Committee and had already been stripped of their positions in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
A Hollowed-Out Military Command
Beyond the expulsions, the purge has left critical leadership gaps in China's top security apparatus. The seven-member Central Military Commission (CMC) is currently operating in a skeletal state, with only two active members: Xi Jinping and Zhang Shengmin. No replacements have been appointed for the removed members.
Similarly, the Politburo—which typically consists of 25 members—remains incomplete, currently numbering only 22 following the addition of Zhang Shengmin. Even among those eligible for promotion, some were pointedly bypassed. Fu Wenhua, a former commander of the Beijing Garrison and a former subordinate of the purged CMC vice chairman Zhang Youxia, was one of five officials denied elevation to full membership of the Central Committee.
Analysis: Control or Instability?
Experts suggest that these vacancies may be a calculated move. Su Tzu-yun, a researcher at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research, believes the purge will persist until the political networks associated with the expelled officials are entirely dismantled. He suggests that keeping the CMC vacancies open until the 21st National Congress next year could allow Xi to consolidate absolute control over the military, even if it leaves the commission functionally weakened in the short term.
However, other analysts see a different story. U.S.-based China analyst Chen Pokong argues that the incomplete leadership bodies are a reflection of Xi's own insecurity and ongoing power struggles within the party. Chen points to the removal of officials who were once considered part of Xi's inner circle, such as Zhong Shaojun and Fang Yongxiang, as a sign of weakening grip over the military.
"Xi is using anti-corruption measures as a pretext to conceal internal power struggles and governance failures," Chen noted, warning that the continuous removal of senior officials indicates growing instability within the CCP.
As the Fifth Plenum concludes its decision on the "continued promotion of comprehensive and rigorous Party governance," the political atmosphere in Beijing remains increasingly precarious, with the line between disciplinary action and political survival becoming thinner than ever.