The unending purge in Xi’s China

China’s Fifth Plenum confirmed the expulsion of 33 Central Committee members, including 16 Generals, signalling that Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption purge is far from over; the purge has raised questions about PLA leadership and combat readiness, while Xi’s succession plans remain unclear ahead of the 2027 Party CongressUpdated - November 02, 2026 08:44 am IST Members of the Politburo Standing Committee during the Fifth Plenary session on October 29 | Photo Credit: AP The story so far:A four-day meeting of China’s ruling Communist Party, which concluded in Beijing on October 29, ended with one key message — there is likely to be no end in sight to the ongoing anti-corruption purges that have roiled vast swathes of China’s political and military establishments. Published - November 02, 2026 08:30 am IST