‘Speak last’: China’s fifth plenum moves to rein in regional leaders

A key document endorsed by the Communist Party proposed stronger oversight of principal leaders below the central level, barring them from demanding personal allegiance from their leadership teams – a demand that is only for the top leaders.The proposal is part of a 17,000-word resolution approved at the fifth plenum of the 20th Central Committee, the full text of which was published by state news agency Xinhua on Sunday.The four-day plenum last week emphasised internal governance, discipline and political loyalty, underscoring the drive to “deepen party self-governance”.