The meeting of senior party members at the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China will last four days. This is the fifth such meeting of the current composition of the Committee, appointed in 2022 - reports Reuters. The main goal of the meeting is to adopt specific solutions regarding "full and rigorous self-discipline of the party."
Corruption one of the most important points
President Xi Jinping will present a draft document during the plenum, which - according to the Xinhua agency - refers to the key challenges facing the party: increasing the ability to govern, counteracting complacency and continuing the fight against corruption. The fight against bribery has been one of the most important elements of Xi Jinping's policy since the beginning of his power.
The comments on the draft document emphasized that the implementation of the key decisions and plans of the Central Committee cannot remain just empty words. "It is necessary both to refine institutional rules and regulations to plug gaps and strengthen safeguards, and to ensure their effective implementation," Xinhua reports. This is expected to translate into greater predictability and stability in both politics and the economy.
Xi Jinping is strengthening his position
The current plenum may be the last large party meeting before the personnel changes planned for 2027. Xi Jinping is likely to be elected secretary general for the fourth time. This would be an unprecedented event in China's recent history.
The plenum will portray Xi as in control and able to continue his rule. Most likely, everything will be focused around him to dispel any rumors or doubts about his health and fitness to continue in office, comments Kerry Brown, director of the Lau China Institute at King's College London.
According to him, since the most important political decisions were already made during previous meetings, the current plenum has primarily an image-building dimension. It will be a meeting during which the image will be as important, if not more important, than the content, adds Brown.
Rumors about the health problems of the Chinese leader appeared after a recording of the opening of the BRICS group meeting in New Delhi, which took place in September. At one point, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi interrupted his speech and, looking towards Xi Jinping, asked: "Is everything okay?" Although the question was supposed to be about headphones, theories about the Chinese leader's collapse began to multiply on the Internet.
Later, The Wall Street Journal reported that during their visit to the US, Chinese officials demanded that very long rest breaks be included between planned meetings and speeches. Beijing's requests also included providing a private room for Xi in the White House, where the leader could rest. Only his wife, Peng Liyuan, had access to it. The working lunch between Xi and Donald Trump, which was scheduled to take place on September 24, was also canceled.
Purges in the army and administration
Xi Jinping has overseen an anti-corruption campaign in recent years that has led to the removal of hundreds of senior officials and top generals, including the president's former allies. While critics say the purges - especially those targeting senior members of the armed forces - are destabilizing and weaken combat readiness, the party portrays the action as necessary, saying the military must undergo a phoenix-like rebirth and "immerse itself in flames and be forged anew." The Chinese Communist Party says such efforts also create a more transparent environment for international cooperation because they show that in China, merit and the rule of law trump connections and bribery.
