China Expels Former Xinjiang Chief Ma Xingrui in Anti-Corruption Drive
The Chinese Communist Party (CPC) has expelled Ma Xingrui, former party secretary of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, from the party and removed him from public office for corruption and violations of party discipline, state media reported on Tuesday.
Ma, a former member of the Politburo, the CPC's top decision-making body, was found to have "lost his ideals and beliefs," abandoned his "political conviction," and "seriously violated political discipline and rules," according to the official Xinhua news agency.
At 67, Ma is the third member of the 24-member Politburo to face investigation during the current party term that began in 2022, a relatively rare occurrence in the party's 105-year history.
President Xi Jinping has overseen a sweeping anti-corruption campaign since taking power in 2012, resulting in the punishment of hundreds of party and military officials for corruption and disciplinary breaches.
Ma stepped down as Xinjiang party secretary in July 2025. He also served as deputy head of the CPC's Leading Group for Rural Affairs and had been absent from several key party events since November 2025, prompting speculation about his whereabouts.
In April 2026, China announced an investigation into Ma, and he was placed under disciplinary and supervisory scrutiny. The Politburo later reviewed and approved a report by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, leading to his expulsion.
An aerospace engineer by training, Ma spent years at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, serving as its general manager from 2007 to 2013. During that period, he was also deputy commander-in-chief of China's manned space programme and commander-in-chief of the country's new-generation carrier rocket project, according to reports from the South China Morning Post.
Several of Ma's former subordinates in the aerospace sector have also been investigated as part of China's anti-corruption campaign in recent years.
Since 2022, at least 24 members of the party's Central Committee have been expelled or placed under investigation. In 2025 alone, action was taken against 65 senior officials across the party, government, military, and state-owned enterprises.
