China's Communist Party to hold fifth plenum focused on anti-corruption drive and leadership reshuffle clues

Summary

China's ruling Communist Party is set to hold the fifth plenum of its Central Committee in Beijing next week, running from Monday to Wednesday. According to South China Morning Post reporting, the meeting is likely to be dominated by two themes: the renewal of President Xi Jinping's long-standing anti-corruption drive and the search for clues about a looming leadership reshuffle. Major issues related to advancing full and rigorous party self-governance are expected to top the agenda. Plenums usually take place once a year and draw about 300 delegates. A follow-up South China Morning Post piece by William Zheng and Alcott Wei examines how the fight against corruption is shaping the party's future and describes the increasingly empty auditorium as a sign of the party's strict self-discipline theme.

Timeline

1. South China Morning Post

   23 Oct 2026, 09:06 UTCSource ↗

   SCMP reports that the fifth plenum of the Communist Party's Central Committee, running Monday to Wednesday in Beijing next week, will likely focus on Xi Jinping's anti-corruption drive and clues about a leadership reshuffle, with party self-governance topping the agenda.

2. South China Morning Post

   23 Oct 2026, 22:00 UTCSource ↗

   SCMP, in the third part of a series by William Zheng and Alcott Wei, examines how the anti-corruption fight is shaping the party's future ahead of the fifth plenum and notes the increasingly empty auditorium at the Beijing conclave later this month.