23 July 2024

Some Grand Strategy? – Third Plenum Concludes

ANUSHKA SAXENA

A couple hours ago, the authorised Communiqué of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China was published, and in this edition, I am doing a quick breakdown of some of the narrative discussed therein, and will eventually delve into points of interest in subsequent editions.

To begin with, the Communiqué declares that the Third Plenum reviewed and approved the “Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese Modernization,” the document that was intended to be released with the conclusion of the Plenum.

Next, and last in order, was a discussion on dismissals and investigative cases. Given the slew of corruption-related cases that have been under deliberation specifically in the Chinese People’s Liberation Army in the past year, a mention of the cases under review was a must. And as per the Communiqué, “The plenary session reviewed and approved the Central Military Commission's investigation report on the serious violations of discipline and law by Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming, and confirmed the disciplinary actions of expulsion from the Party for Li Shangfu, Li Yuchao, and Sun Jinming previously decided by the Political Bureau.” The announcements surrounding the dismissal of PLA Rocket force commander Li Yuchao and Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sun Jinming from their respective posts have been around for a while. Li Shangfu’s dismissal for corruption came about at a Politburo meeting in June. Interestingly, the crimes of Wei Fenghe, the defence minister preceding Li Shangfu, were also announced at this meeting. However, Wei finds no mention in the Plenum Communiqué

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