China's Party Meeting Opens as Military Leadership Shrinks

The Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee opened a four-day closed-door session in Beijing on Monday, bringing together around 300 members. State media reported the meeting would set out steps to tighten discipline within the party. A summary of decisions and a fuller document will be released after the session ends on Thursday. The location has not been announced. Past plenums have been held at Beijing's Jingxi Hotel.

The Asia Society Policy Institute counted 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022 and estimated that two remain. The Central Military Commission, which oversees China's armed forces, has seven seats and now holds two members: Xi Jinping and one other general. The plenum gives Xi a forum to name new officers for that body. Allegations of corruption, including moral corruption, have removed large numbers of senior figures. The party has treated moral failings as a route to punishing perceived disloyalty to Xi.

A September readout from the 21-member Politburo said the plenum would adopt a decision on major issues in the strict governance of the party. The next Party Congress falls one year from now and will appoint a new Central Committee and set fresh priorities. The process for choosing top leadership stays inside the party elite. Xi Jinping is expected to be reappointed as the country's leader after term limits were lifted. The session runs through Thursday.

Plenums take place at least once a year, with seven held during each five-year Central Committee term. Earlier gatherings declared Xi the core of the party, ended term limits, and raised Xi Jinping Thought to the standing once held by Chairman Mao's thought. This meeting comes as Xi has removed senior military figures from their posts.