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Member of China's Politburo misses two key meetings, fuelling speculation
The Straits Times
|December 14, 2025
A member of China’s decision-making Politburo has missed two high-profile meetings in recent weeks, fuelling speculation about his fate amid President Xi Jinping’s widening anti-corruption purge.
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Mr Ma Xingrui, who is also former party chief of Xinjiang, was absent on Dec 11 from state media footage of the Central Economic Work Conference convened in Beijing to map out policy for the year ahead. The other 22 members of the elite group attended the meeting, according to footage aired by state broadcaster CCTV after the conclave concluded.
The meeting signalled leaders are planning only modest economic stimulus in the months ahead.
Mr Ma also skipped a Politburo study session on Nov 28, according to CCTV footage of that meeting.
This story is from the December 14, 2025 edition of The Straits Times.
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