Xi to Fill Military Command Vacancies at Beijing Plenum

The Fifth Plenum of the Communist Party of China began on Monday in Beijing, convening approximately 300 members of the Central Committee for a four-day session that concludes Thursday. This closed-door meeting serves as a precursor to the next Party Congress, which will occur in one year and is expected to reappoint Xi Jinping as the country's leader following the earlier removal of term limits.

State media indicated that the plenum will focus on advancing comprehensive strict governance within the Party. A readout from the 21-member Politburo in September stated that the session would adopt decisions on major issues regarding this stricter governance. Analysts interpret this move as a strategy to ensure obedience and effectiveness among distant party officials, aligning views with the leadership's priorities ahead of the upcoming Congress.

The meeting provides a critical opportunity for Xi to reshape the military leadership structure. The Asia Society Policy Institute estimates that only two of the 44 military members appointed to the Central Committee in 2022 have remained in their posts. The remaining members have been removed amid allegations of corruption and moral failings, which experts view as a mechanism to crack down on perceived disloyalty.

The Central Military Commission, the seven-member body that directs China's armed forces, has been reduced to just two individuals: Xi Jinping and one other general. The current plenum is designated as the forum where new officers will be appointed to fill these vacancies. This restructuring occurs after a period of intense purges that have culled large swathes of senior figures from the Party's ranks.

The secrecy surrounding the event is consistent with past plenums, which are held at least once a year during each five-year Central Committee term. The specific location of this session has not been publicly announced, although previous gatherings have taken place at the Jingxi Hotel in Beijing. Detailed documents summarizing the decisions made during the session will be released to the public after the meetings conclude on Thursday.

The timing of this plenum is significant as it occurs in the final year of the current Central Committee term. The next Party Congress will appoint a new central committee and set new priorities for the Party. While the official process for selecting top leadership is managed by the Central Committee, the actual selection mechanisms remain opaque within the Party elite. This session allows Xi to dictate strategy and ensure delegate loyalty before the broader Congress convenes.