China expels former Politburo member Ma Xingrui in anti-graft drive

President Xi Jinping's intensified anti-graft campaign has led to the expulsion of Ma Xingrui, a former member of the elite Politburo, from China's ruling Communist Party. This marks the third instance of a sitting Politburo member being purged since 2025, signaling a continued crackdown on corruption within the highest echelons of power.

Ma, who also held the position of deputy head of the central rural work leading group, was placed under investigation in April for alleged "serious violation of law and discipline," the party's standard euphemism for corruption. Investigations revealed that Ma engaged in corrupt practices, including seeking benefits for others in the selection and appointment of officials and improperly arranging jobs. He also illegally accepted gifts, facilitated property purchases for relatives below market value, and was involved in exchanges of power for money and sex, according to reports from Xinhua.

Authorities described Ma's actions as large-scale "family corruption," where he allowed his relatives to exploit his official influence for significant personal gain. He also illegally accepted substantial sums of money and property, although the exact amounts were not specified by Xinhua. Ma himself could not be reached for comment.

The expulsion of Ma Xingrui is the latest development in Xi Jinping's long-standing effort to eradicate corruption, which has already ensnared numerous high-ranking officials in the party, government, and military. Previous purges include investigations into Zhang Youxia, the military's most senior general, initiated in January, and the expulsion of He Weidong, a former vice-chair of the Central Military Commission, in October 2025.

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serious violation of law and discipline