China expels a record number from Communist party amid Xi’s intensified purges of top officials

The Guardian UK Friday 30 October 2026, 02:56 UTC By Amy Hawkins in Beijing 1 min read

Key Points

The unprecedented number of empty seats at the fifth plenum – a symbol of expulsions – serve as a symbol for the scale of the purges under Xi JinpingChina expelled a record number of officials from the Chinese Communist party (CCP) as it concluded a major political gathering, which saw an unprecedented number of empty seats indicating the scale of the purges under Xi Jinping. A record 33 members were expelled at this week’s fifth plenum, a gathering of top officials that takes place roughly...

The unprecedented number of empty seats at the fifth plenum – a symbol of expulsions – serve as a symbol for the scale of the purges under Xi Jinping

China expelled a record number of officials from the Chinese Communist party (CCP) as it concluded a major political gathering, which saw an unprecedented number of empty seats indicating the scale of the purges under Xi Jinping.

A record 33 members were expelled at this week’s fifth plenum, a gathering of top officials that takes place roughly once a year.

China (LOCATION) Communist (ORG) Xi (PERSON) Xi JinpingChina (PERSON) the Chinese Communist party (ORG) CCP (ORG) Xi Jinping (PERSON)

Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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China expels a record number from Communist party amid Xi’s intensified purges of top officials

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