China's anti-graft purge cuts party leadership to historic lows ahead of key summit

Beijing deputy mayor Xia Linmao stood in front of state television cameras just days ago, taking notes as Walmart CEO John Furner urged American companies to expand their presence in China. Now Linmao has disappeared from public view. He is the newest casualty of an aggressive anti-corruption drive that has stripped power from the upper ranks of the Communist Party.

The removal of Linmao follows the recent probe of Huang Qifan, a former mayor of Chongqing who had survived six different party secretaries before his own downfall. Huang’s investigation sent a clear signal to party officials who have long wondered who would be next. Over the past three weeks, the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection has released near-daily updates on arrests and expulsions, keeping the political establishment on edge.

These actions come just before a high-level, closed-door meeting of more than 200 party elites in Beijing this week. Attendance is expected to be at a historic low because so many leaders are currently under investigation. The summit is set to bolster the authority of President Xi Jinping ahead of a larger leadership gathering next fall, where Xi is expected to seek a fourth term.

Xi, 73, has never looked more secure in his position. He recently told party cadres that the corruption problem remains grave and that the fight against graft would be a never-ending struggle. Since taking power more than 14 years ago, he has purged millions of rank-and-file officials. In 2022, he ordered investigators to turn the blade inward, targeting those tasked with enforcing discipline.

The scale of the purge has accelerated in recent months. Official data from the Central Commission of Discipline Inspection shows that more than 410 officials were purged in the past three years. Between 2012 and 2022, over 500 ministerial-level officials were probed, convicted, and expelled from the party.

The removals have hollowed out key institutions. The Central Military Commission, which usually has seven members, is now down to two, with Xi being one of them. The 24-member Politburo, the party's top decision-making body, has lost three members. This reduction leaves fewer senior figures who could potentially challenge Xi’s leadership or form rival factions.

The speed of the purge has caught even experienced officials off guard. Ma Xingrui, a senior party official who once ran the western region of Xinjiang, vanished from public view for five months before authorities announced an investigation into him in April. For many, an official investigation signals the end of a political career, with guilty officials often kept out of the public eye even after serving their sentences.

Authorities have also shown a willingness to use capital punishment to enforce party discipline. In May, former defense ministers Wei Fenghe and Li Shangfu received suspended death sentences with a two-year reprieve after being convicted of bribery. Both men were once considered trusted aides to Xi.

The continuous purging has altered the career paths of younger officials. With fewer seniors available to provide patronage and protection, the path to advancement has changed. Deng Yuwen, a former deputy editor of the Study Times, said that younger people now listen directly to Xi. He noted that whoever Xi promotes will become a loyalist, giving the leader enough time to build a trusted circle without worrying about existing rivals.