China Promotes General Zhang to Politburo Amidst Record Low Attendance

China’s top leadership elevated General Zhang Shengmin to the Politburo on Thursday. Zhang serves as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission. His promotion places the only remaining general on that commission into the party's highest governing body.

The move follows earlier purges that removed two other top generals. Those removals left Zhang as the sole military representative on the commission alongside President Xi Jinping. Consequently, the Politburo had lacked any member from the People's Liberation Army until this week's decision. Zhang also holds the position of deputy secretary for the CMC Commission for Discipline Inspection, a role focused on internal military oversight.

The decision was made during a four-day closed-door meeting of top Communist Party leaders. The session took place roughly one year before Xi Jinping is widely expected to secure his fourth five-year term as party leader. Delegates deliberated on and adopted several resolutions intended to guide the party over the coming years.

Leaders also approved a resolution on strengthening party self-governance and anti-corruption efforts. The party stated that its tasks are "increasingly arduous," including the need to "unite and lead the people to safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests." The resolution emphasizes maintaining ideological purity and close ties with the public. A summary from the Xinhua News Agency noted the party must enhance its "long-term governance capacity" while preserving its "progressive nature and purity."

Xi Jinping has championed anti-corruption campaigns since assuming power in 2012. Analysts indicate the current crackdown has expanded to include underperforming officials. Party members reviewed and confirmed the personnel changes resulting from the earlier purges of top members and military officials.

Neil Thomas, a senior fellow at Asia Policy, analyzed the attendance figures from the plenum. He calculated an attendance rate of 74 percent. Thomas noted this figure is the lowest recorded since the era of former leader Mao Zedong, who regularly conducted political purges. The low turnout suggests wider-than-expected removals from the party's upper echelons.

The resolutions adopted in Bangkok will guide party policy in the lead-up to the next leadership term. The formal confirmation of Zhang's status and the discipline measures marks the conclusion of the current session's primary agenda.