The Chinese Communist Party has expelled Ma Xingrui, a high-ranking official, accusing him of corruption and power abuse. Ma, formerly the party secretary for Xinjiang, is now the third Politburo member removed since 2022 as part of President Xi Jinping’s intensified anti-corruption efforts.

Ma Xingrui’s downfall marks his exit from China’s top levels of power. Initially recognized as a promising political figure, Ma made significant contributions as both an engineer and scientist. His removal reflects one of the most pronounced purges of the Politburo since the reforms established by Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s.

With Ma’s removal, the Politburo now consists of only 21 members. This follows the previous expulsions of military officials He Weidong and Zhang Youxia. The pattern of purging top officials suggests a shift in internal political discipline.

“It used to be that if you reached the rank of Politburo it would have to be something very serious before you were taken down,” said Steve Tsang, director of the SOAS China Institute in London. “This was changed by Xi. Now, Politburo members drop like bowling pins.”

By removing several top officials, Xi Jinping underscores his message to party members: comply with directives and maintain discipline.