Xi Jinping uses Fifth Plenum to tighten Communist Party discipline
President Xi Jinping is conducting a high-level closed-door meeting to consolidate power and ensure absolute loyalty within the Communist Party and the military ahead of the next Party Congress.
What happened
The Fifth Plenum, a secretive four-day gathering of approximately 300 Central Committee members, is focusing on 'comprehensive strict governance of the Party.' This session follows extensive purges within the Central Committee and the Central Military Commission, leaving several leadership seats vacant and reducing the top military body to just two active members.
Why it matters
The plenum serves as a mechanism for Xi Jinping to align the political elite with his vision and remove 'two-faced' officials who appear to comply with orders while inwardly resisting. By tightening discipline and using 'moral corruption' as a metric for disloyalty, Xi is ensuring that the leadership structure is fully loyal before he seeks a fourth five-year term at the next Party Congress.
What could happen next
The plenum is expected to result in the appointment of new officers to the Central Military Commission and the release of a formal policy document on party self-governance.
Context
Plenums are regular meetings of the Central Committee used to signal leadership priorities. Xi Jinping has previously used these sessions to abolish term limits and elevate his personal philosophy, 'Xi Jinping Thought,' to the status of Mao Zedong's teachings.