China says 'serious hidden dangers' eliminated within party, state, military after 33 expulsions

China has eliminated “serious hidden dangers” within its Communist Party, state and military under President Xi Jinping, a senior official said on Friday, a day after authorities confirmed the expulsion of a record 33 figures.

Xi has led a sweeping anti-corruption campaign since taking power more than a decade ago, targeting thousands of officials and dozens of members of the powerful Central Committee, as well as senior military figures.

The latest expulsions were confirmed as a four-day plenum of the Central Committee concluded on Thursday. Those removed include former Politburo member Zhang Youxia, once China’s highest-ranking general.

The plenum adopted a decision on “advancing full and rigorous governance of the party”, including measures to reduce corruption among cadres, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Anti-corruption drive

The Central Committee, “with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core”, had “eliminated serious hidden dangers within the Party, the state and the military”, Zhang Fuhai, deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), said on Friday.

The party was guided by the sense of mission that “we would rather offend thousands than let down 1.4 billion people”, he told reporters, referring to China’s population.

The CCDI said disciplinary and supervisory bodies had punished 7.9 million people since 2012.

Zhang Youxia was removed from his position following a months-long graft investigation, with his expulsion from the party confirmed on Thursday.

Ma Xingrui, a former senior official in Xinjiang, was also expelled. He had previously been removed from all his posts over corruption allegations.

TRT World / AFP — TRT World / AFP