China Communist Party plenum puts Xi control in focus

President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese Communist Party officials are due to meet in Beijing on Monday for a closed-door plenum focused on party governance, discipline and possible signals about China's next generation of leaders.

The fifth plenary session of the party's Central Committee is scheduled to conclude Thursday. It comes before the 21st Party Congress in autumn 2027, when Xi is likely to secure another term as leader.

The meeting will debate and adopt a decision on “full and rigorous party self-governance”, with Xi seeking to make party cadres more effective, less corrupt and more loyal.

State media published an article before the plenum based on a January speech in which Xi criticised officials who appear to comply with central directives while resisting them in practice. He also criticised officials who fail to act when they find problems.

Analysts will watch whether Xi further strengthens his authority. Some speculate he could assume the title of “party chairman”, a position held by Mao Zedong.

Personnel changes are also in focus. The Politburo has vacancies after three members were removed, but positions are rarely filled at a plenum. The Central Committee has eight full-member vacancies, with another 15 members under investigation who could be replaced.

The anti-corruption campaign has also reached China's military. Five of the seven members of the Central Military Commission, the party's top armed forces body, have been toppled, and the plenum could appoint new members, wait until the 2027 congress or change the party's control structure over the military.