Politics · 2026-10-26 · Afternoon briefing

China's Communist Party meets to 'tighten discipline'

Around 300 members of China's Communist Party Central Committee have gathered in the Chinese capital for the Fifth Plenum, a closed-door, four-day session that began on Monday. State media indicates the meeting will result in a "tightening of discipline" within the party's ranks, allowing leader Xi Jinping to further consolidate his authority.

The plenum follows a series of high-level purges, particularly within the military. According to an estimate from the Asia Society Policy Institute, of 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022, only two have not been removed. The powerful seven-man Central Military Commission, which commands the armed forces, has also been reduced to just two individuals: Mr. Xi and one other general.

Such plenums, held at least once a year, are used to signal leadership priorities. Previous sessions were instrumental in cementing Mr. Xi's position, including abolishing term limits and elevating his personal philosophy to the same level as Chairman Mao. This week's gathering sets the stage a year ahead of the next Party Congress.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• China's Communist Party elite gather for governance talks
• What to know about China’s plenum as Xi seeks stronger Communist Party discipline
• What to know about China's plenum as Xi seeks stronger party discipline
• China’s Communist Party holds a plenum on its next five-year plan. What does it mean?
• China's Communist Party opens fifth plenum

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