CHINA

China Elevates Military Leader to Politburo, Ratifies Party Expulsions

Published: Oct. 30, 2026 2:28 p.m. GMT+8

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Zhang Shengmin

China’s Communist Party elevated military leader Zhang Shengmin to its Politburo and confirmed the expulsion of 33 party members at a Central Committee meeting that ended Oct. 29, according to a communiqué published by state-run Xinhua News Agency.

The committee upheld earlier Politburo decisions to expel Ma Xingrui, Zhang Youxia, Liu Zhenli and 30 others from the party. It also confirmed a decision to remove Li Yunze from his party posts.

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Zhang Shengmin elevated to Politburo, first midterm addition since 2012.
Committee confirmed expulsion of 33 members, including Ma Xingrui, Zhang Youxia, and Liu Zhenli.
Fifth plenary session held Oct. 26–29 in Beijing, attended by 162 full and 117 alternate members.

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What Happened When

1958-08：: Zhang was born.

1978-02：: Zhang joined the military.

2004：: Zhang moved to the Second Artillery Corps.

2014：: Zhang became director of the Second Artillery’s political department.

2015-12：: Following military reforms, Zhang became political commissar of the Central Military Commission’s Training and Administration Department.

2016-07：: Zhang succeeded Liu Yuan as political commissar of the commission’s Logistic Support Department.

2017-01：: Zhang succeeded Du Jincai as secretary of the military commission’s Commission for Discipline Inspection.

2017-10：: At the first plenary session of the party’s 19th Central Committee, Zhang was elected to the party’s Central Military Commission and became deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

2017-11：: Zhang Shengmin was promoted to Rocket Force general.

2018-03：: Zhang Shengmin became a member of the state Central Military Commission.

2025-10：: The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee appointed Zhang Shengmin as vice chairman of the party’s Central Military Commission.

2026-07：: Zhang Shuguang succeeded Zhang Shengmin as secretary of the military commission’s Commission for Discipline Inspection and director of its Supervisory Commission.

2026-10-26 to 29：: The fifth plenary session of the party’s 20th Central Committee took place in Beijing.

2026-10-29：: The Central Committee meeting ended, confirming the expulsion of 33 party members and elevating Zhang Shengmin to the Politburo, as announced in a communiqué by Xinhua.

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