China expels senior Communist Party leader in widening anti corruption campaign

China has expelled former Politburo member Ma Xingrui from the ruling Communist Party after concluding a corruption investigation against him. The move marks another major development in President Xi Jinping’s long running anti corruption campaign and makes Ma the third serving member of the Communist Party’s powerful Politburo to be removed since 2025.

Ma, who also served as deputy head of the Communist Party’s central rural work leading group, came under investigation in April over what Chinese authorities described as serious violations of law and party discipline. The phrase is commonly used by Chinese officials when referring to corruption related cases involving senior government figures.

According to the official Xinhua News Agency, investigators found that Ma misused his position to influence the appointment and promotion of government officials while helping others secure jobs through improper means. The investigation also concluded that he failed to prevent serious misconduct by officials working under his leadership and did not take action despite being aware of illegal activities carried out by close associates.

Authorities further accused Ma of accepting expensive gifts and using his influence to help relatives purchase property at prices below market value. The report also claimed that members of his family benefited financially from his official position, describing the case as a large scale example of family corruption. Investigators alleged that Ma accepted significant amounts of money and valuable assets through illegal means, although no specific figures were released.

The investigation has also spread to several officials connected to Ma during his political career. In March, Chinese authorities announced a separate probe into Guo Yonghang, who served as Ma’s chief of staff when he led the southern city of Shenzhen between 2015 and 2016. Guo later continued to rise through the ranks in Guangdong province while Ma served as governor. Several officials promoted during Ma’s time as Communist Party chief of Xinjiang have also faced investigations in recent months.

Ma’s removal highlights President Xi’s continued efforts to target corruption at the highest levels of government, the military, and state institutions. Since launching the campaign more than a decade ago, thousands of officials have been investigated or punished. Supporters argue the drive has strengthened party discipline, while critics believe it has also been used to remove political rivals and tighten Xi’s control over the country’s leadership.

The latest case follows other high profile investigations involving senior military officials. Earlier this year, China opened a corruption probe into General Zhang Youxia, one of the country’s highest ranking military leaders. Former Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong was also expelled from the Communist Party last year over corruption allegations.

Before entering politics, Ma built a successful career in China’s aerospace industry. Trained as a scientist, he spent more than ten years working at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, where he played an important role in managing major space and missile programs. His technical background helped him rise quickly through government ranks before taking on senior leadership positions in several provinces and national institutions.

His downfall comes as Chinese authorities continue to examine the country’s defense and aerospace sectors. Earlier this year, prosecutors charged former defense industry official Zhang Jianhua with bribery and abuse of power. Zhang had previously worked under Ma when he headed China’s defense industry regulator in 2013. In the same period, three lawmakers linked to the defense, aerospace, and nuclear industries were also removed from their positions, reflecting the government’s growing focus on cleaning up strategic sectors considered vital to national security.