At its July 30 meeting, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Politburo decided to convene the Fifth Plenum of the 20th Central Committee in October. The plenum’s principal agenda will be to study “major issues concerning the comprehensive and strict governance of the Party.”
Some analysts believe the renewed emphasis on strict Party governance is intended to help Xi Jinping consolidate control ahead of the 21st Party Congress, where he is widely expected to seek another term as CCP General Secretary. They speculate that the leadership may seek to conclude ongoing investigations involving former Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and CMC Joint Staff Department Chief Liu Zhenli, both reportedly under investigation for disciplinary violations and being disrespectful to Xi Jinping. Observers argue that prolonged uncertainty surrounding these cases could undermine military morale and that the Fifth Plenum would provide a politically appropriate occasion to announce their outcomes.
The Politburo justified its focus on “strict Party governance” by stating that “profound changes” in both domestic and international conditions have created new challenges for Party building. It stressed that the entire Party must recognize the importance of strict self-governance from the perspective of safeguarding the CCP’s long-term ruling position. Analysts view this language as underscoring Beijing’s priority of preserving Party control and political stability as preparations for the next Party Congress accelerate.
Source: Radio France International, July 31, 2026
https://www.rfi.fr/cn/中国/20260730-五中全会的主要议程为何是-全面从严治党