China's Fifth Plenum to Emphasize Party Discipline Ahead of 2025 Congress

Beijing is hosting the Fifth Plenum of the Chinese Communist Party, a four-day closed-door meeting of roughly 300 Central Committee members that began on Monday. State media indicated the session will adopt a decision on "several major issues persistently advancing the comprehensive strict governance of the Party," a phrasing interpreted as a move toward tighter internal discipline.

The timing of the plenary is significant because it occurs a year before the next Party Congress, where leadership positions are formally confirmed and a new Central Committee is appointed. Analysts expect the congress to reaffirm Xi Jinping’s leadership following the earlier removal of presidential term limits.

Historically, plenums have been used to elevate Xi’s political doctrine and to signal the party’s strategic priorities. This year’s meeting is viewed as an opportunity for the leadership to align policy directions and ensure loyalty among delegates ahead of the congress.

The agenda also reflects ongoing efforts to address what officials describe as "moral corruption" within the party, a term used to denote perceived disloyalty. The Asia Society Policy Institute notes that of the 44 military officials appointed to the Central Committee in 2022, only two remain, highlighting the extent of recent personnel changes.