Morning Briefing — 21 October 2026 SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

Morning Briefing — 21 October 2026

The Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee meets behind closed doors in Beijing from 26 to 29 October for the Fifth Plenum . The official agenda is “ full and rigorous Party self-governance ”, which in plain language means discipline, anti-corruption and loyalty, not stimulus. That raises an awkward question. A leader in full command rarely needs a plenum devoted to discipline. Is Xi Jinping tightening an already firm grip ahead of his expected fourth term at the 2027 Party Congress, or is it a sign the grip needs tightening? Watch the personnel announcements more closely than the communiqué. [Read the article: asiasociety.org - The Limits of Xi’s Control: What to Watch at China’s Fifth Plenum]

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