The Communist Party of China (CPC) concluded the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee with a communiqué that emphasises the session’s theme, “rigorous self-governance of the Party”. The key thing to watch, however, is what the personnel changes reveal about internal politics in the run-up to the 21st Party Congress. First, consider the attrition within the top leadership bodies, starting with the Central Committee. At this plenum, 162 full members and 117 alternate members attended, making it the lowest attendance since the Mao era.

The plenum confirmed the expulsion of 33 members and alternates and stripped former financial regulator Li Yunze of his Party posts. A year ago, the figure was 14. The Central Military Commission (CMC) lodged a whopping 16 removal cases, including former vice-chairman Zhang Youxia, former Western Theatre commander Wang Haijiang, and two........

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