Liu Jianchao, rumored to become foreign minister, is likely to be expelled at Fifth Plenum

[Financial News] Liu Jianchao, the former head of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department who was once tipped to become China's foreign minister, is reportedly among those set to be expelled at the Fifth Plenary Session of the CCP's 20th Central Committee. The Fifth Plenum is being held behind closed doors in Beijing over four days starting on the 26th. 
Hong Kong-based HK01 reported on the 27th that as many as 45 Central Committee members would face expulsion at this Fifth Plenum. 
The outlet said the list includes Zhang Youxia, a former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission who was one of the most powerful figures in China's military, as well as former Politburo member Ma Xingrui. It added that around 10 more people had 'disappeared' from the military, the party or the government without any official announcement.
Citing its own tally, HK01 reported that over the past year, amid the CCP's anti-corruption campaign, 22 Central Committee members and six alternate members had either officially fallen from power or 'officially' lost their seats as deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's legislature.
HK01 reported that the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection completed its review report on former department head Liu Jianchao early this year. Liu, who 'disappeared' last July amid rumors that he had fallen from power, has reportedly been demoted from ministerial rank to section-chief level. It remains unclear whether he still holds CCP membership.


Liu, a longtime veteran of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, became head of the CCP's International Liaison Department, a ministerial-level post overseeing relations with foreign political parties and socialist countries, in 2022. There was also speculation that he would take over as head of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position left vacant after former Foreign Minister Qin Gang's sudden downfall in 2023.
However, Liu has not appeared at official events since returning from an overseas business trip in late July last year. The International Liaison Department was reorganized under its current head, Liu Haixing.
HK01 noted that Liu's case may be more serious than that of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, whose departure from the Central Committee was handled as a 'resignation' at the 20th Central Committee's Third Plenum in 2024. The outlet reported that Qin appears to have been demoted to vice-ministerial rank.


The U.S. think tank Asia Society projected that 291 of the 376 Central Committee members and alternate members would attend this Fifth Plenum, putting attendance at 77%—below 80% and likely the lowest since the end of the 'Mao Zedong era.' It forecast that 44 of the 205 Central Committee members and 41 of the 171 alternate members would be absent.
The CCP convenes a plenary session of its Central Committee at least once a year. The Central Committee of the 20th term, which began with the 20th Party Congress in 2022 and is known as 'Xi Jinping's third term,' had 205 full members and 171 alternate members.
At this Fifth Plenum, the party is expected to take follow-up action on unresolved personnel issues, including the downfall of senior officials since last year's Fourth Plenum. 

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Specialist Reporter