The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) witnessed a sharp decline in its membership drive in 2022, according to recently released data. The growth rate of the party stood at a meager 1.4%, marking a significant drop compared to the figures for 2021.
In contrast, the party experienced a surge in membership by an additional 3.4 million cadres in 2021, resulting in a growth rate of 3.7%.
However, in 2022, the party only managed to attract 1.3 million new members. This unexpected drop coincided with a decrease in the number of youths under 30 joining the party, exhibiting a significant decline of 1.5% compared to 2021.
The decline in membership can be attributed to the stringent screening process implemented for new applicants, which was introduced as part of the party’s organizational restructuring to promote ideological progress.
Anti-corruption watchdogs are crucial in purging youths who appreciate Western values, engage in extravagance, or deviate from the party’s directives.
One notable reason behind this sharp decline is the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China’s top anti-corruption agency.
The commission has conducted a series of high-profile crackdowns on young cadres, accusing them of involvement in corrupt activities.
This decline and the targeting of young members is not recent but can be traced back to 2012 when Xi Jinping assumed power.
Xi prioritized political appointments based on governance experience and loyalty, subjecting the party’s youth members to constant surveillance and scrutiny under anti-corruption initiatives.
The turning point came around 2014 when a major corruption scandal involved the former presidential chief of staff, sentenced to life imprisonment in 2016 for accepting bribes, abusing power, and unlawfully acquiring state secrets.
Since then, Xi has favored promoting officials from his network and emphasized the importance of grassroots work experience, which youth members typically require.
He has often criticized the leadership of the Youth League as “aristocratic,” while the party’s top discipline watchdog has accused them of being excessively bureaucratic and self-serving.
Despite a record-breaking 21 million applications submitted, 300,000 more than the previous year, the disdain of anti-corruption watchdogs towards young cadres has contributed to a decline in recruitment numbers.
Consequently, the total number of members below 30 has experienced a steady decline over the past few years, with a significant drop of 1.5% since 2021. Xi’s attitude towards youth cadres plays a role in this trend.
To further consolidate control over young cadres, Xi has called upon his anti-corruption watchdogs to enhance youth members’ education, management, and supervision, guiding them towards a politically correct path.
These measures reflect Xi’s influential presence and centralized vision for the party. He maintains complete authority, is surrounded by trusted officials, and leaves no room for internal challenges or factionalism.
