The United States is scheduled to hold mid-term elections on November 3 to elect representatives tasked with enacting laws and providing oversight, while in Beijing, the ruling Communist Party (CCP) has formally expelled 33 senior political and military officials.
The purges come as President Xi Jinping prepares for a fourth term as General Secretary of the CCP next year, a move that would grant him twenty years of unquestionable power. The CCP has been conducting an intensive anti-corruption campaign, which has resulted in the expulsion of over 500 ministerial-level officials and over two million government workers.
Anti-Corruption Purges and Political Consolidation
The campaign, which began in 2012, has targeted officials across various sectors, with senior members of the People’s Liberation Army, Navy, and Air Force being among those expelled. General Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission and a member of the CCP’s Politburo, and Liu Zhenli, Chief of Staff of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, were both expelled from the CCP and the military. The breadth of these actions has led to questions regarding the motivations behind the purges.
Analysts are questioning whether many of the 500 ministerial-level officials were purged due to allegations of corruption, or if political disloyalty played a role in the high-profile dismissals. The state has been operating under a system that allows its paramount leader, the General Secretary, to wield power over lawmaking, individual rights, and opposition suppression, in exchange for promises of stability and economic growth.
The Debate Over Leadership Structure
The current consolidation of power by President Xi contrasts with the long-standing internal debates within the CCP regarding governance. Deng Xiaoping, who rose to power in December 1978, was a strong advocate for collective leadership and term limits for the General Secretary of the CCP, a policy that limited terms to two five-year periods.
Other senior leaders have also advocated for significant political reforms. Zhao Ziyang, the former General Secretary, wrote in his banned book, Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Zhao Ziyang, expressing his support for a parliamentary democracy and the rule of law. He was purged from the CCP in 1989 after sympathizing with the student protests at Tiananmen. Similarly, former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who served from 2003 to 2013, frequently spoke of the necessity of political reform, asserting in 2012 that “democracy is inevitable” to match China’s economic growth.
How U.S. Ties Fueled China's Rise Despite CCP's Governance Claims
The CCP often asserts that its form of governance is superior to the U.S. political system, arguing that this authoritarian model is preferable to constitutional democracy, particularly for nations in the Global South. However, the relationship between the two systems has been complex, as many in China recognize the crucial role the United States played in China’s ascent as the world’s second-largest economy.
Following the formal diplomatic relations established in January 1979 after Deng visited the U.S., China began its policy of “reform and opening up.” During this period, the U.S. facilitated economic growth through the transfer of dual-use technologies and providing market access for Chinese goods. This support and investment were key to China’s rapid modernization and its success in lifting millions out of poverty.
Anticipated Shift at the 21st Party Congress
Looking ahead, expectations suggest that President Xi will seek and secure a fourth five-year term as General Secretary of the CCP at the 21st Party Congress, which is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2027. The ongoing campaign to purge officials, which has also targeted PLA generals and admirals, has intensified scrutiny on the nature of Xi’s consolidation of power.
The U.S. maintains that its constitutional democracy functions as a transparent and fair system of governance, one that empowers the people through representative elections, even while acknowledging its complexities.
