Politburo member Ma Xingrui missing
Our spidey senses are tingling.
Politburo member and former Xinjiang Party Secretary Ma Xingrui was absent from the recently concluded Central Economic Work Conference.
- That's Ma’s second major absence in as many months, after he missed a Politburo study session in November.
ICYMI: Ma was removed as Xinjiang Party Secretary in July, with no explanation given.
- At the time, the announcement said he would be “reassigned to another position” – suggesting Ma wasn’t in political trouble.
So what gives? The two most plausible explanations for Ma’s absences are that he is either dealing with serious health issues or is under investigation.
Get smart: Our bet is on the latter.
- Ma has deep links to China’s defence and aerospace industries, which have been caught up in the sweeping anti-corruption purge rocking the armed forces.
Get smarter: If Ma has been caught up in a corruption scandal, this raises the possibility of further shake-ups within the Politburo.
- At least two other Politburo members – Yuan Jiajun and Zhang Guoqing – also have deep ties to the defense-industrial system, meaning the clean-up could eventually extend to them as well.