The 20th Fourth Plenary Session of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) concluded this afternoon (23rd) with nearly 60 absences, as revealed in the meeting communique. Analysis indicates intense infighting within the CCP, with some officials who have fallen out of favor not publicly disclosed in the list of absentees, but the data of absences serves as evidence.
According to Xinhua News Agency, around 5 pm today, the communique of the Fourth Plenary Session was released, indicating that 168 Central Committee members and 147 alternate Central Committee members attended the meeting.
Initially, the 20th Central Committee consisted of 205 members and 171 alternate members. By the time of the Third Plenary Session of 2024, Li Shangfu and Li Yuchao were expelled from the party, and Qin Gang resigned, with three individuals filling those vacancies. At the opening of the Fourth Plenary Session, there should have been 205 Central Committee members. Three alternate members were appointed at the Third Plenary Session while one was expelled (Sun Jinming), leaving 167 alternate members at the beginning of the Fourth Plenary Session.
Comparing the officially disclosed attendance numbers – 168 Central Committee members and 147 alternate Central Committee members – it indicates that 37 Central Committee members and 20 alternate members were absent, totaling 57 absentees.
This situation is rare for the CCP post-Cultural Revolution.
According to the communique of the Fourth Plenary Session, the 11 individuals newly appointed as members of the Central Committee include members such as Yu Wen, Ma Hancheng, Wang Jian, Wang Xi, Wang Yonghong, Wang Tingkai, Wang Xinwei, Wei Tao, Deng Yiwu, Deng Xiuming, and Lu Hong.
Among the absentees are former Central Committee members who were expelled at the Fourth Plenary Session, which include Tang Renjian, Jin Xiangjun, as well as military figures such as He Weidong, Miao Hua, He Hongjun, Wang Xiubin, Lin Xiangyang, Qin Shutong, Yuan Huazhi, and Wang Chunning. Furthermore, one person, former Customs Commissioner Yu Jianhua, passed away in December 2024 due to unnatural causes.
Currently under investigation are Central Committee members such as Lan Tianli, Wang Lixia, Yi Huiman, and Zhang Lin.
The four expelled alternate Central Committee members at the Fourth Plenary Session include Li Shisong, Yang Fasen, Zhu Zhisong, and Director of the Rocket Army Political Work Department Zhang Fengzhong. Two individuals, Fei Dongbin and Wu Shenghua, are currently being investigated.
Comparing the list of alternate Central Committee members from the 20th CCP, it can be seen that eight individuals were skipped for promotion at the Fourth Plenary Session, which includes Wang Liyan, Deputy Commander of the Rocket Army; Wang Kangping, Commander of the Joint Logistics Support Force; Wang Jiayi, Deputy Minister of Education; Fang Yongxiang, Director of the Central Military Commission Office; Fang Hongwei, current Standing Committee member of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the Xi’an Municipal Party Committee; Shi Yugang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group of the Yunnan Provincial Political Consultative Conference; and Lieutenant General Shi Zhenglu, Commander of the Northern Theater Command.
It is noteworthy that prior to this, at least nine Central Committee members were rumored to be under investigation but hadn’t been officially reported. This includes individuals like the Western Theater Command Commander Wang Haijiang, Central Military Commission Political and Legal Affairs Secretary Wang Renhua, Armed Police Political Commissar Zhang Hongbing, Navy Commander Hu Zhongming who was reported to be dismissed in June, the Tibet Military Region Commander Wang Kai who was absent during Xi Jinping’s meeting with army officers in August, Army Commander Li Qiaoming who was absent from the August 1st reception, Information Support Force Political Commissar Li Wei, Northern Theater Commander Wang Qiang, and Political Commissar Xu Deqing from the Central Theater Command.
During the recent military parade on the National Day, which is traditionally overseen by the Central Theater Command Commander, the temporary commander was unexpectedly changed to Lt. Gen. Han Shengyan, Commander of the Central Theater Command Air Force.
Among the dismissed alternate Central Committee members whose whereabouts are unknown following their dismissal are Yuan Jie, Chairman of China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, and Wen Gang, Chairman of China Shipbuilding Group.
Additionally, in July of this year, the Political Bureau member and former Xinjiang Secretary Ma Xingrui, who was dismissed, has been officially noted as “appointed elsewhere,” but rumors on the internet suggest that he is being investigated. Former Military Commission Office Director Zhong Shaojun, who was reassigned as the Political Commissar of the National Defense University, has also been rumored to be dismissed again.
Adding up the speculated names mentioned above, there are approximately 40 individuals, not including those on sick leave.
Political commentator Li Linyi said, following CCP’s rules, those being skipped over in promotions may have faced issues. Those who have been missing for long periods or have unknown whereabouts may also have faced issues. There could be more individuals affected due to the secretive nature of factional struggles within the party, preventing their attendance at the recent Central Committee meeting. Even though the facts might not be officially disclosed, the data on absentees from the meeting confirms the intense infighting within the CCP.