Xi to fill military voids at plenum

The Communist Party of China has convened its fifth plenum in Beijing to restructure leadership and enforce stricter internal controls.

The four-day session, which began on Monday and concludes on Thursday, gathers roughly 300 members of the Central Committee. State media indicate the meeting will produce a decision on advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the Party. This move is interpreted as an effort to ensure obedience from officials across the country. The plenum also serves as a strategic alignment period before the next Party Congress, which is scheduled to take place in one year.

The timing of this meeting is critical because it occurs just before the central committee appoints new leadership. The next congress will likely reappoint Xi Jinping as the country's leader, a position he can hold indefinitely after the abolition of term limits. Past plenums have been used to declare Xi as the core of the Party and to elevate his personal philosophy to the same status as Chairman Mao's thought. The current session allows Xi to dictate strategy and ensure delegates remain loyal to his vision.

Recent purges have left noticeable gaps in the party's upper echelons. The Asia Society Policy Institute estimates that only two of the 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022 remain in their posts. Allegations of corruption and moral disloyalty have led to the removal of many senior figures. The seven-man Central Military Commission, which oversees the armed forces, has been reduced to just two members: Xi Jinping and one other general. This plenum provides Xi with the opportunity to appoint new officers to this key body.

The secrecy surrounding the event continues, with the specific location of the meeting not yet announced to the public. Past sessions have typically been held inside Beijing's Jingxi Hotel. A readout from the 21-member Politburo earlier this year outlined the agenda for persistently advancing strict governance. Delegates are expected to address the empty chairs resulting from the recent culling of senior officials. The process for selecting the Party's top leadership remains opaque, occurring within the elite circle without public visibility.

Following the session, a summary of decisions and a more detailed document will be released to the public. These materials will signal the leadership's priorities for the coming years. The meeting marks the final major step before the new central committee is appointed at the upcoming Party Congress.