Xi Jinping to appoint new military leaders at Beijing party meeting

The Fifth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee wrapped up on Thursday in Beijing.

The four-day session, which began on Monday, brought together approximately 300 members of the Central Committee. State media reported that the closed-door gathering would establish a framework for stricter discipline within the party. This timing places the meeting just one year before the next Party Congress, where a new central committee will be appointed.

A primary focus of the plenum is the reconstruction of the military leadership. The Asia Society Policy Institute estimates that 42 of the 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022 have since been removed. Recent purges citing corruption and moral failings have left many seats empty. The session provides Xi Jinping with the opportunity to appoint new officers to fill these vacancies.

The Central Military Commission, a seven-man body that directs the armed forces, has been reduced to only two members: Xi Jinping and one other general. The plenum serves as the venue to restore this body to its full capacity. By appointing new leaders, the party leadership aims to ensure alignment among delegates ahead of the upcoming Congress.

The Politburo, a 21-member body, announced in September that the plenum would adopt decisions on advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the party. Officials describe this initiative as a method to secure obedience from regional party officials. Experts note that allegations of moral corruption are often used to target perceived disloyalty to Xi.

The plenum is the final major meeting before the Party Congress, where Xi is expected to be reappointed as leader following the removal of term limits. Past plenums have established Xi as the core of the party and elevated his personal philosophy to the same status as Chairman Mao. The specific location of the meeting was not made public, though previous sessions have been held at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing.