China to Step Up Anti-Corruption Drive During 15th Five-Year Plan, CPC Disciplinary Body Says

Beijing: The China anti-corruption drive is set to intensify during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030, as the disciplinary watchdog of the Communist Party of China (CPC) called for stronger and more sustained efforts to curb corruption. The call was made through a communique adopted at the fifth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, which was held in Beijing from Monday to Wednesday.

The session underscored the CPC’s determination to strengthen Party discipline and governance amid evolving economic, political and geopolitical challenges.

China Anti-Corruption Drive Backed by Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping, who also serves as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the plenary session and delivered an important address, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Reinforcing the Party’s long-standing position, the CPC leadership reiterated that clean governance remains a core priority alongside economic growth and technological advancement. The Party has consistently framed corruption as a fundamental threat to its legitimacy and long-term stability.

People’s Daily Emphasises Clean Party Conduct

On Tuesday, the CPC’s official mouthpiece People’s Daily highlighted that maintaining unblemished Party conduct is among the Communist Party’s foremost objectives. The publication said President Xi has repeatedly stressed that there is no place for corruption in China, describing graft as a “cancer” that undermines the vitality of the world’s largest Marxist governing party.

The report noted that since Xi assumed leadership in 2012, China has taken unprecedented steps to combat corruption, with the ongoing campaign aimed at ensuring that the CPC serves the people and national interests rather than internal or personal gains.

Anti-Graft Campaign Expands Across Sectors

Chinese media reports indicate that corruption is not limited to financial misconduct but also includes administrative malpractices such as wastage of resources, delays in project execution and lack of accountability. The CPC has adopted a multi-layered anti-corruption mechanism to address these issues across governance structures.

Citing Chinese sources, Sri Lanka’s leading daily Daily Mirror reported that Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign is expected to intensify further after 65 senior officials were detained in 2025, the highest number since the campaign began over a decade ago. This figure marks a 12 per cent increase from 2024, reflecting the widening scope of the crackdown.

Military and Financial Sectors Under Scrutiny

The report highlighted that the anti-corruption drive has expanded deep into China’s political, financial and military systems. The Chinese armed forces have witnessed sweeping purges, including the expulsion of former Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong, signalling Beijing’s concern over corruption amid rapid military modernisation.

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The campaign has also shaken financial markets, with the fall of former securities regulator Yi Huiman sending shockwaves through an already fragile investment environment. Officials caught in the crackdown span provincial leaderships, central ministries, state-owned enterprises, elite universities and the financial sector.

Analysts say the surge in cases reflects both deeper exposure of entrenched corruption and Beijing’s resolve to tighten control at a time of slowing economic growth, rising policy challenges and increasing geopolitical pressure. The developments come ahead of the January 12–14 plenary session, where further policy signals are expected.