Leadership shakeups within the Chinese Communist Party have claimed another top official. Under President Xi Jinping, the party abruptly replaced on July 15 Sun Zhengcai, a longtime leadership candidate from the party's sixth generation of prospects, saying he was under investigation for allegedly violating party regulations, according to Chinese state media. Appointed by former President Hu Jintao, Sun was the youngest member of the party's Politburo, was the Communist Party chief of Chongqing, and was once considered a potential successor to Xi. The party subsequently promoted Chen Min'er, a confidant of Xi, to the Chongqing party secretary post, likely cementing a Politburo post for him ahead of the coming leadership transition, slated for October or early November.

Under Xi's government, China has embarked on the broadest and deepest anti-corruption drive since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 and the rise of Deng Xiaoping two years later. Xi attempted to reorganize and rectify the Communist Party leadership by investigating more than 182,000 officials across numerous regions and at all levels of government. His campaign to rout corruption from the party ranks has snagged low-level cadres, midlevel functionaries and the chiefs of major state-owned enterprises and ministries. His recent expulsions could help him consolidate his grip on power over the Chinese Communist Party, including the Politburo Standing Committee, which plans a major reshuffling this year.

The fate of Sun remains unknown, but his high-profile dismissal, along with his subsequent replacement, has several important implications. First, the removal deprives Sun of any position in the Politburo or Standing Committee in the upcoming leadership transition, and it revokes his potential candidacy as a successor to Xi after 2022. Second, Xi's move enhances his ability to influence Politburo decision-making through his handpicked, trusted associates and further solidifies his role within the party system. Most prominently, the removal of Sun potentially eliminates another check on Xi in his attempt to retain a core position beyond his current tenure and clears a seat for Xi to appoint his own successor.