China has replaced 11 key officials at a key meeting of its Communist Party, representing the biggest reshuffle since 2017 amid an ongoing military anti-corruption purge.
Thousands of officials in the ruling Chinese government, diplomats, and military officials have been purged since president Xi Jinping made anti-corruption drives his signature policy since coming to power in 2012.
The CCP released the statement on the last day of a key closed-door meeting of the 300-plus member body in Beijing known as the Fourth Plenum, which also discussed a forthcoming five-year economic development plan.
Veteran Chinese general Zhang Shengmin, 67, was promoted to the second top official at the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC).
Mr Zhang, who currently serves on the CMC, replaces He Weidong, the former second-ranked vice chair who was expelled from the Communist Party on Friday on corruption charges along with eight other People's Liberation Army generals.
It was the highest turnover at a single Central Committee meeting since 2017's Seventh Plenum, when a record 11 members were replaced.
The Communist Party on Thursday also confirmed the expulsion of Mr He, Miao Hua, Tang Renjian, Jin Xiangjun, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, Wang Chunning, Li Shisong, Yang Fasen, Zhu Zhisong and Zhang Fengzhong from the party.
Mr Zhang had a long career rooted in political work, having served for a long time in the second artillery force, now the People's Liberation Army’s (PLA) Rocket Force. He also served a stint in the CMC's general logistics department, also the target of anti-corruption probes in recent years.
Mr Zhang wielded an unusually high degree of power for a military officer within the civilian Communist Party system. He was promoted to the CMC in 2017 and became a full general the same year, while concurrently serving as deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or China's top anti-corruption body.
The CMC is chaired by President Xi, with Zhang Youxia serving as another vice-chairman.
The Xi-appointed nine military officials, who were ousted last week, were suspected of "extremely serious crimes involving exceptionally large sums of money", the Chinese defence ministry said. It added that their cases had been investigated and referred to military prosecutors for review and prosecution.
Mr He and the eight expelled generals were also Central Committee members, and some of their investigations had not previously been disclosed. Mr He was a part of the 24-member Politburo and was thought to have been a close military confidante of President Xi.
Both men served in Fujian province in the 1990s. His removal is the first of a sitting general on the CMC since the 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution.
Analysts say the president’s anti-corruption campaign, which is popular with the public, has also been used to enforce loyalty to Mr Xi among party and government officials, which also helps him consolidate power. More than six million officials have been punished for corruption and misconduct, according to reports.
In June 2024, Beijing announced that former defence minister Li Shangfu and his predecessor Wei Fenghe were expelled from the Communist Party.
The plenum was attended by 168 full members of the Central Committee and 147 alternate members, during which the Communist Party set out its economic agenda for the next five years.
The Party said it would focus on speeding up self-reliance in science and technology in the face of "profound and complex" changes and rising "uncertainty."
“We must have the courage to face major tests amid high winds, rough waves and even raging storms, and tackle difficulties, risks and challenges with a spirit of historical initiative – focusing on doing our own work well to write a new chapter in sustaining China’s economic growth and long-term social stability,” the communique read.
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