On October 23, 2026, the Communist Party of China held an early meeting of the Politburo. Rumors of high-ranking officials being put under investigation have been circulating ahead of the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee.
The official Communist Party media Xinhua News Agency reported that the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee convened a meeting on October 23 to review the “Comprehensive Report on the 7th Round of Central Inspection of the 20th CPC Central Committee”. The meeting was chaired by party leader Xi Jinping.
The meeting emphasized the strict implementation of the party’s governance responsibilities, the comprehensive and strict administration of the party, maintaining a high-pressure stance against corruption, and other related tasks.
It also discussed other matters, which conventionally refer to personnel reassignments or other issues not suitable for public disclosure.
Traditionally, the Politburo meeting is held at the end of each month, but this meeting was unusually advanced by 8 days. The reason might be the upcoming Fifth Plenary Session next week. In the previous month (September), the Politburo meeting was also held early on September 21 due to Xi Jinping’s visit to the United States on September 24.
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is scheduled to take place in Beijing from October 26 to 29. The meeting is expected to pass a resolution on the “comprehensive and strict administration of the party”, leading many to believe that it will be the largest political purge since the end of the Cultural Revolution in the Communist Party of China.
Prior to the Fifth Plenary Session, there have been continuous rumors circulating about the mysterious political situation, with high-ranking officials allegedly facing investigation.
On October 22, the CPC held a high-profile event commemorating the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Long March at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Hu Chunhua, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was absent from the meeting. Former Inner Mongolia official Du Wen later revealed that Hu Chunhua and his family had gone missing.
In addition, Major General Zhang Like, Minister of the National Defense Mobilization Department of the Central Military Commission, was also reportedly absent from the Long March 90th anniversary event, with his current situation unknown.
On October 22, Deputy Mayor of Beijing Xia Linmao was also placed under investigation following long-standing rumors of his downfall. Xia Linmao is a former subordinate of Cai Qi, a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee. Sources told Dajiyuan that Xia Linmao has broad connections, closely related to multiple individuals involved in the case of former Central Politburo member Ma Xingrui, and also involves Cai Qi’s son, Cai Erjin.
Within the political circles of the Communist Party, Huang Qifan, a “political non-toppled wobbly doll” who has experienced many leading positions, was put under investigation on October 13. Public opinion believes that Huang Qifan’s downfall indicates the widening scope of the internal cleansing within the Communist Party.
Following the precedent set since Xi Jinping came to power, it is customary to announce the expulsion from the party of major figures (“big tigers”) awaiting disciplinary actions before the Central Committee meeting. The specific identities of those on the list are yet to be observed.
According to the latest analysis report by the Asia Society, a think tank in the United States, out of the 376 Central Committee members and alternate Central Committee members selected at the 20th CPC National Congress in October 2022, it is expected that only 291 people will attend the forthcoming session, with an attendance rate of about 77.4%, potentially setting a new record low.