China's Plenum Focuses on Tightening Party Discipline Under Xi

A significant four-day political gathering, known as a plenum, has commenced in Beijing, with analysts anticipating that it will be used by President Xi Jinping to further tighten discipline and control over the Communist Party. The highly secretive meeting, which began Monday, is an opportunity for Xi to align party strategy ahead of the upcoming Congress and ensure delegate loyalty.

The plenum's agenda includes adopting a decision on "several major issues persistently advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the Party." This focus on strict governance is interpreted as a measure to ensure greater obedience from party officials, particularly those in distant regions.

Past plenums have served as pivotal moments for Xi, solidifying his status as "the core" of the Party, enabling the abolition of presidential term limits, and elevating his personal ideology, "Xi Jinping Thought," to a status comparable to that of Chairman Mao. This year's gathering occurs amidst a backdrop of significant purges within the Party, leading to a palpable sense of nervousness among delegates.

Allegations of corruption, including a broadened definition encompassing "moral corruption," have led to the removal of numerous senior figures. Experts suggest that "moral corruption" is being used as a tool to address perceived disloyalty to Xi, as disloyalty to the Party can be framed as a breach of morality.

The impact of these purges is starkly evident in the Party's key bodies. According to estimates from the Asia Society Policy Institute, out of 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022, only two remain. The Central Military Commission, the body overseeing China's armed forces, has been similarly reduced, with only Xi Jinping and one other general remaining. This plenum presents an opportunity for Xi to appoint new officers to this crucial commission.