On Tuesday, the Chinese Communist Party expelled Ma Xingrui, accusing him of corruption and abusing his power for personal benefits. Ma Xingrui, formerly the party secretary for Xinjiang, is the third Politburo member ousted since 2022 under President Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign. This campaign aims to address misconduct in the highest levels of government.
Ma’s expulsion signifies a significant fall from power. Ma, an accomplished engineer and scientist, was once considered a rising star in China’s political landscape. His removal from the Politburo underscores the most significant purge within the body since Deng Xiaoping’s era in the 1980s.
With his expulsion, the Politburo’s membership now stands at 21 following the removals of military officials He Weidong and Zhang Youxia. Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute, noted that previously, taking down a Politburo member required serious allegations. He said, “This was changed by Xi. Now, Politburo members drop like bowling pins.”
Tsang emphasized that this move by Xi Jinping serves as a stern warning to other officials to comply with instructions and maintain proper conduct.
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