The facts
The official communiqué confirms earlier Politburo decisions expelling named civilian and military officials. It separately confirms Li Yunze's removal from a party post; that action is not added as a 34th expulsion. [1]
Those expelled include Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli, Ma Xingrui and former senior diplomat Liu Jianchao. The communiqué describes alleged serious disciplinary and legal violations without providing individual criminal judgments. [1][2]
Zhang Shengmin, a Central Military Commission vice-chair, was elected to the Politburo. Reuters reports that only Xi Jinping and Zhang remained from the seven-member commission appointed in 2022. [1][2]
The plenum adopted a party-governance resolution and scheduled the 21st Party Congress for the second half of 2027 in Beijing. It did not announce the outcome of that future leadership selection. [1]
Still unconfirmed
- Individual criminal-case outcomes and further changes to military command were not established.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 30 Oct 2026, 11:31 UTC.
- Fifth-plenum communiqué of the 20th Central Committee
Communist Party of China, via Xinhua · Primary source · 29 Oct 2026
Actual complete communiqué read via web fallback after local TLS validation failed; certificate checks were not disabled. It ratifies earlier decisions, lists the personnel actions and distinguishes Li Yunze's post removal.
- Reporting on China's plenum expulsions and absences
Reuters, via AOL · Reporting · 29 Oct 2026
Actual updated 15:06 UTC report read. Reuters is separate from Chinese authorities; its historical comparisons and commission assessment are reporting, not independent proof of corruption.
- China ruling party comments after 33 expulsions
AFP, via CNA · Reporting · 30 Oct 2026
Actual current report read. The briefing's cumulative disciplinary totals since 2012 are not presented as a new purge on 30 October.