CHINA: Chinese authorities have expelled former Politburo member Ma Xingrui from the ruling Communist Party over corruption charges, marking the third purge of a senior Politburo figure since 2025 as President Xi Jinping intensifies his anti-graft campaign.
Ma, who also served as deputy head of the Central Rural Work Leading Group, had been under investigation since April for alleged “serious violations of law and discipline”, the Communist Party’s standard term for corruption-related offences.
What allegations have been made against Ma Xingrui?
According to state news agency Xinhua, investigators accused Ma of abusing his authority by securing benefits for others in the appointment of government officials and arranging jobs through improper means.
The investigation also alleged that he illegally accepted gifts, helped relatives purchase property below market value, and engaged in exchanges involving power, money and sexual favors.
Authorities further accused Ma of allowing family members to exploit his official position for personal gain, describing the case as one of large-scale “family corruption.” No financial value of the alleged illicit assets was disclosed.
How does the case fit into Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption campaign?
Ma’s expulsion represents the latest development in President Xi Jinping’s long-running anti-corruption drive, which has targeted senior officials across the Communist Party, government and military.
The campaign has intensified in recent months, with Chinese authorities launching a corruption investigation into senior military leader Zhang Youxia in January, while former Central Military Commission Vice Chairman He Weidong was expelled from the Communist Party in October last year.
Has Ma Xingrui responded to the allegations?
Ma Xingrui could not immediately be reached for comment on the accusations. Chinese authorities have not announced when judicial proceedings against him may begin.