Xi’s Endless Purges

As Xi Jinping approaches the 2027 leadership transition, the question of who might eventually succeed him remains unanswered. After more than a decade in power, he appears poised to seek a fourth term, while no clear successor has emerged.

At the same time, his campaign of political purges shows little sign of slowing down. In its latest announcement, the Chinese Communist Party expelled 33 senior officials, including prominent figures from the military and diplomatic establishment. Among them were Liu Jianchao, a senior diplomat once seen as a rising figure, and Zhong Shaojun, a longtime military aide to Xi. Sixteen of those expelled were military officials.

The scale of the purge is striking. Attendance at the Central Committee’s latest gathering had fallen to 279, down from 376 in 2022.

Xi calls his campaign for tighter party discipline “self-revolution.” Yet as more officials are removed—including people once considered close to him—the concentration of power around one man becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.

In a system built on loyalty, even loyalty may have an expiration date.

Click for news reports:

‘Pull Out the Sick Trees’: Xi’s Constant Purges Pave Way for Next Term

China Confirms Expulsion of 33 Officials, as Xi’s Purge Deepens