China's fifth plenum opens with party discipline in focus
The Guardian reports China's fifth plenum opens Monday with party self-governance central, after over a million people were investigated for discipline last year.
The story in focus
China's fifth plenum opens Monday, with state media saying it will focus on advancing the party's full and rigorous self-governance. The Guardian reports disciplinary authorities investigated more than 1 million people last year, and the Central Military Commission now has two members after Zhang Youxia's expulsion.
- The fifth plenum opens Monday and is set to focus on advancing the party's full and rigorous self-governance, state media said, according to The Guardian.
- The Guardian reports China's disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people last year, including over 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level.
- The Guardian reports the Central Military Commission, which normally has seven members, has been reduced to two after Zhang Youxia's expulsion from the party last month.
- The Guardian reports the plenum is likely the last substantive meeting before next year's 21st Party Congress, where a new Central Committee will be chosen.
Discipline dominates the agenda
The fifth plenum of China's Communist party opens Monday, with state media saying it will focus on major issues in advancing the party's full and rigorous self-governance, The Guardian reports. In party language, governance refers to discipline, loyalty and anti-corruption work.
The Guardian reports that last year disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people, among them over 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level. The meeting brings together more than 300 Central Committee members, and is the fifth of seven plenums normally held in each five-year cycle between party congresses.
Military and regional purges
The Guardian reports that Zhang Youxia, described as China's top general and second to Xi in the military hierarchy, was placed under investigation in January and expelled from the party last month. Having already been removed from the Central Military Commission, his expulsion left the body, which normally has seven members, with two: Xi and Zhang Shengmin, the CMC's head of discipline.
The Guardian also cites other recent cases, including Ma Xingrui, the former party secretary for Xinjiang, and Huang Qifan, the former mayor of Chongqing. The Guardian reports that analysts interviewed for its article questioned whether investigations are aimed at corruption or at a lack of political loyalty.
Timing before the 21st congress
The Guardian reports the plenum is likely to be the last substantive gathering before next year's 21st Party Congress, at which a new Central Committee will be chosen and Xi is expected to be anointed for a fourth term as party head.
When does China's fifth plenum open?
The Guardian reports the fifth plenum starts on Monday. State media said it will focus on major issues in advancing the party's full and rigorous self-governance, a byword for discipline, loyalty and anti-corruption.
Sources & further reading
- Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown in the spotlight as China prepares for meeting of top leaders ↗The Guardian
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