Xi Jinping to fill military gaps at party meeting

The Fifth Plenum of the Communist Party of China is currently taking place in Beijing, bringing together approximately 300 Central Committee members.

The session began on Monday, October 26, and is scheduled to conclude on Thursday. It marks the final major party gathering before the upcoming Party Congress.

Recent months have seen a reduction in the number of senior officials within the party structure. The Asia Society Policy Institute estimates that of the 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022, only two remain in their positions. This decline has left the seven-man Central Military Commission, which directs China's armed forces, with only two active members: President Xi Jinping and one other general.

The timing of this meeting is strategic because the next Party Congress is one year away. That event will formally appoint a new central committee and set national priorities. While the process is officially conducted by the Central Committee, the internal selection mechanics are kept confidential. The current plenum serves as a mechanism to align delegate views and ensure loyalty ahead of the larger assembly.

State media reports indicate the session will focus on tightening discipline within the party. A readout from the 21-member Politburo in September stated that the plenum would adopt decisions on advancing comprehensive strict governance. Officials interpret this as a move to ensure obedience from party leaders in distant regions. The term moral corruption has been used in recent investigations, a phrase experts say targets perceived disloyalty to the leadership.

The plenum will also provide an opportunity to appoint new officers to the Central Military Commission, filling the vacancies created by the purges. The specific location of the meeting has not been announced, though past sessions have been held at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing.

Following the four-day session, the party will publish a summary of decisions and a detailed document outlining its strategic direction. The next Party Congress is expected to reappoint Xi Jinping as the country's leader, a status secured after the abolition of term limits in previous plenums.