China expels Politburo member Ma Xingrui for corruption

A former senior Chinese official has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party on a wide range of corruption charges, becoming the third sitting member of the elite Politburo to be ousted since 2025. Ma Xingrui, 66, was stripped of his party membership and removed from all public duties following an internal investigation, authorities announced on July 14.

The expulsion follows a probe launched in April into what the party termed serious violations of discipline and law. According to official reports, the investigation found that Ma helped family members purchase property at below-market prices, engaged in transactions involving power and money for sex, and allowed relatives to exploit his political influence for huge financial benefits. He was also accused of seeking benefits for others in business operations, project contracting, and job promotions, while illegally accepting large sums of money and valuables. Authorities described his case as involving "large-scale family corruption" and being "particularly serious."

Ma, a scientist-turned-administrator, had a long career in China's state-owned aerospace and defense industry before moving into provincial leadership. He...