Ma Xingrui © EPA/ JESSICA LEE This marks the most substantial removal of figures from the Politburo within a single term since 1976.
As the leader of China, Xi Jinping, escalates his drive against graft , the nation has commenced an inquiry into another member of the Communist Party's Central Committee Politburo, which acts as the ruling entity, Bloomberg indicates.
Chinese press outlets have broadcasted the start of an investigation into “grave breaches” of regulations and party rules committed by Ma Xinrui, previously the party committee secretary for Xinjiang, a region in western China. The precise regulations implicated in these “grave breaches” were not detailed.
Even though Ma has not been ousted from the Politburo, Chinese officials seldom make a comeback after investigations into corruption. In the recent past, Xi essentially ousted three members of the Politburo, while also initiating investigations into two prominent Chinese generals, He Weidong and Zhang Yuxia.
This represents the biggest dismissal of Politburo figures within a term since the Cultural Revolution era (1966–1976), during which the radical political organization known as the “Gang of Four” was investigated.
The possible removal of Ma would reduce the Politburo to its smallest size since 1999, following the passing of one official and leaving the body with only 21 members.
Once viewed as a “rising political talent” in China, Ma, aged 66, has a background in the aerospace sector which later helped him attain a position as a vice-minister.
From 2016 to 2021, Ma held the position of governor of Guangdong province. His time in Xinjiang is mainly noted for easing the stringent policies of his predecessor, including the construction of detention facilities which resulted in sanctions from Western nations.
Ma was moved from the Xinjiang autonomous region last July, and a fresh assignment was declared. However, indications of issues started arising after Ma was absent from a Politburo session in November.
Xi’s drive to combat corruption has predominantly targeted the Chinese military. As Viktor Konstantinov stated in an article for ZN.UA , the extent of the removals within the Chinese army was unprecedented, even by Xi’s standards — the removals extended even to his inner circle and the top positions of strategic branches within the military. In the article titled “ Purges before the strike: why is Xi changing generals on the eve of a possible war for Taiwan, ” Konstantinov delved into the reasons behind and the effects of the reshuffling of personnel by the Chinese leader.