On July 14, 2026, the official news from Dajiyuan reported that Ma Xingrui, a member of the political bureau of the Chinese Communist Party and former Party Secretary of Xinjiang, has been expelled from the Party and stripped of his public office in a move known as “double expulsion.” The official announcement used harsh language, specifically mentioning Ma’s involvement in allowing his relatives to exploit his position for significant financial gains, leading to widespread corruption within his family, echoing previous rumors.
According to Xinhua News Agency of the Chinese Communist Party, the Central Committee has decided to expel Ma Xingrui from the Party and dismiss him from public office due to “serious violations of discipline and law.” The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission have initiated a thorough investigation into Ma Xingrui’s “serious disciplinary and legal issues.” It is reported that on June 30, a meeting of the political bureau reviewed and approved the report on Ma Xingrui’s case submitted by the disciplinary committee.
The official announcement accused Ma Xingrui of “serious violations of political discipline and rules,” allowing serious violations of discipline and law among his staff, and ignoring allegations of criminal activity. He was also found to have abused his authority in the selection and appointment of cadres for personal gain, arranged jobs for others in violation of regulations, accepted gifts and money improperly, assisted relatives in buying houses at discounted prices, and engaged in corrupt practices involving power and money.
The announcement particularly highlighted issues related to Ma Xingrui’s relatives, stating that he allowed and even encouraged them to exploit his position for immense profits, leading to rampant family corruption. It mentioned instances where Ma Xingrui or in collaboration with relatives and associates had illegally received substantial amounts of property.
The severity of Ma Xingrui’s case was emphasized in the official statement, describing it as “extremely serious” with “extremely adverse effects.” He has been expelled from the Party and removed from public office, his qualification as a delegate to the 20th Party Congress revoked, and he will be transferred to the procuratorial organ for investigation and prosecution. The decision to expel him from the Party will be confirmed at a future meeting of the Central Committee.
Earlier on June 26, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of the Communist Party of China announced the termination of the national deputy status of 14 officials, including Political Bureau member Ma Xingrui.
Ma Xingrui stepped down as Party Secretary of Xinjiang in July last year, with officials stating that he had been appointed to another position, which was not disclosed publicly. He was first reported to be under investigation on April 3, with officials revealing his new role as the Deputy Head of the Central Working Group on Rural Affairs.
Since the Fourth Plenum in October last year, Ma Xingrui had been “missing” until his official downfall in April this year. Speculations arose due to his close ties with Peng Liyuan, the wife of Xi Jinping, both originating from Shandong province, drawing attention to the complexity of this case.
Political commentator Chen Pokong previously told Dajiyuan that Ma Xingrui’s downfall had significant repercussions for Xi Jinping and Peng Liyuan. It was evident that neither Xi Jinping nor Peng Liyuan intended to bring down Ma Xingrui; the prolonged process suggested their obstruction. Ma Xingrui had intricate ties, including business interests with Peng Liyuan’s family. As a trusted confidant of Xi Jinping and a prominent figure at the 20th Party Congress, Ma Xingrui’s investigation was clearly not the wish of Xi Jinping or Peng Liyuan. The mainstream political factions, including the elder statesmen, the princelings, and most senior officials, advocated for legal actions against Ma Xingrui, indicating Xi Jinping’s inability to protect him.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun expressed to Dajiyuan that the danger of Ma Xingrui’s case went beyond mere corruption. Ma’s wife, Rong Li, did something highly unusual by providing insurance policies to the wives and children of numerous leaders from other regions such as Hong Kong, with amounts ranging from millions to tens of millions. The extensive and intricate network of political connections they established posed a serious threat.
Following the 20th Party Congress, three members of the Political Bureau, including Ma Xingrui, He Weidong, and Zhang Youxia, have fallen from power. Chen Pokong believes that Xi Jinping’s established team from the 20th Congress has been severely shaken. Despite appearing to hold immense power on the surface, Xi Jinping has lost his authority in practice.