Chinese Communist Party Turns 105, Facing Challenges of Eradicating Corruption and Restoring 'Purity'

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) marked its 105th anniversary on July 1, 2026, with a significant emphasis on the consolidation of power around General Secretary Xi Jinping and a renewed call to eradicate corruption. Xi, addressing a central ceremony in Beijing's Great Hall of the People, portrayed the CCP as the driving force behind China's national rejuvenation and asserted that the nation has "firmly" taken its destiny into its own hands.

The anniversary celebrations commenced with a festive atmosphere in Tiananmen Square, where attendees wore red lapel pins and posed for photos. Inside the hall, a large golden hammer and sickle emblem was displayed alongside the years '1921-2026' and red banners urging unity around the Central Committee, with Xi identified as its "core" – a designation consistently used over the past decade.

This milestone arrives as Xi Jinping has solidified his authority, dismantling previous leadership transition norms. The removal of presidential term limits in 2018 paved the way for his extended tenure. Further strengthening his position, the CCP approved a landmark resolution in 2021, the third in the party's history after those associated with Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping, which cemented Xi's political standing.

Xi's third term as party secretary, confirmed at the 20th National Congress in 2022, is unprecedented among recent predecessors. No clear successor has emerged from the Politburo Standing Committee, the party's highest decision-making body, ahead of the 21st National Congress scheduled for autumn 2027. Xi currently holds the top positions in the party, the state, and the military commission, ensuring his control over the party, government, and armed forces.

In his address, Xi stressed the party's need to eliminate elements that compromise its "purity" and "cleanse all viruses" that harm its "healthy organism." This message follows years of anti-corruption campaigns that have implicated ministers, state-owned enterprise executives, and high-ranking military officials. Xi also highlighted the CCP's role in China's rapid industrialization, a process that took centuries in developed nations, asserting the party's central role since its founding in 1921.