<p>The fifth plenum comes against a backdrop of years of purges that have had some analysts wondering if the issue is corruption or a lack of loyalty</p><p>When Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he pledged to stamp out corruption all through the ranks of the Communist party. More than a decade later, the pace of investigations has not slowed. Last year, China’s disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people, including more than 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level.</p><p>As Chinese Communist party (CCP) officials prepare for an important meeting this week discipline – and party loyalty <strong>–</strong> is high on the agenda. For those who try to read the tea leaves of elite Chinese politics, concern about the apparent lack of discipline is dominating CCP discussions.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/xi-jinping-corruption-crackdown-china-fifth-plenum">Continue reading...</a>
World
Xi Jinping’s corruption crackdown in the spotlight as China prepares for meeting of top leaders
<p>The fifth plenum comes against a backdrop of years of purges that have had some analysts wondering if the issue is corruption or a lack of loyalty</p><p>When Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, he pledged to stamp out corruption all through the ranks of the Communist party. More than a decade later, the pace of investigations has not slowed. Last year, China’s disciplinary authorities opened investigations into more than 1 million people, including more than 100 officials at or above ministerial or provincial level.</p><p>As Chinese Communist party (CCP) officials prepare for an important meeting this week discipline – and party loyalty <strong>–</strong> is high on the agenda. For those who try to read the tea leaves of elite Chinese politics, concern about the apparent lack of discipline is dominating CCP discussions.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/26/xi-jinping-corruption-crackdown-china-fifth-plenum">Continue reading...</a>