What to know about China's plenum as Xi seeks stronger party discipline

A focus on party discipline

The fifth plenum of the Communist Party’s Central Committee began Monday. Xi opened the meeting with a work report and remarks on a draft policy to advance “full and rigorous party self-governance,” according to Xinhua.

The proposal aims to make officials more disciplined and effective while reducing corruption. Analysts say the gathering gives Xi an opportunity to bring officials’ actions closer to Beijing’s objectives. Ruby Osman, a senior policy adviser at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, said the meeting could help ensure rising officials share Xi’s view of China’s opportunities and risks.

A broader campaign against misconduct

The effort now also targets underperformance. Punishments for “formalism” and “bureaucratism”—including dereliction of duty, inaction and reckless acts that hinder development—have surged in recent years. Osman said the campaign is increasingly about building an institutional system that can sustain Xi’s priorities across leadership cycles. She added that record disciplinary actions do not necessarily indicate rising corruption, but may reflect higher expectations for officials.

Loyalty and implementation tested

Mingda Qiu, a senior analyst with Eurasia Group’s China practice, said the anti-corruption campaign is not winding down. He said officials are being assessed for loyalty, compliance and action.

An October article in Qiushi Journal said Xi had noted in January that top-level decisions were generally implemented smoothly, but inspections and audits found failures to comply and improper execution. Xi has warned about “two-faced people” who claim loyalty but privately defy orders. He said leadership transitions require promoting reliable officials who take responsibility and preventing self-interested figures from advancing.

Observers watch for absences

The number of empty seats at the meeting may help observers assess the reach of Xi’s purges. Neil Thomas of the Asia Society Policy Institute and colleagues Lobsang Tsering and Shengyu Wang reported that 42 of the 44 military-affiliated officials elected as full Central Committee members in 2022 had been purged or disappeared. The account does not provide the remainder of their estimate.