Recently, the Secretary of the CCP Shenzhen Municipal Committee was changed, with Jin Lei, a Standing Committee Member of the Sichuan Provincial Committee and Minister of the Organization Department, succeeding Meng Fanli as the Secretary of Shenzhen. Independent commentator Cai Shenkun commented that Jin Lei lacks outstanding political achievements and his faction background is not prominent enough. However, he quickly ascended to the position of Standing Committee Member of the provincial committee, suggesting there may be “special factors” at play.
On March 22, it was officially announced that Jin Lei was appointed as a member and Standing Committee Member of the Guangdong Provincial Committee, as well as the Secretary of Shenzhen Municipal Committee, becoming the first post-70s Secretary of Shenzhen.
Before his transfer to Shenzhen, Jin Lei served as a Standing Committee Member and Minister of the Organization Department of the Sichuan Provincial Committee.
Public information shows that Jin Lei, born in February 1970 in Ji Yuan, Henan Province, began his career in July 1992 and joined the CCP in October 1999.
Since July 1992, Jin Lei’s career has been mainly in Henan Province, starting from grassroots positions and gradually advancing to the Deputy Secretary of the Zhengzhou Municipal Committee of Henan, Party School Principal of the Municipal Committee, Deputy Secretary, Mayor, and Party Secretary of Anyang City.
From December 2019 to March 2026, Jin Lei held various positions in Sichuan Province, serving successively as the Secretary of the Deyang Municipal Committee, Standing Committee Member of the Sichuan Provincial Committee, Secretary of the Deyang Municipal Committee, Secretary of the Sichuan Provincial Committee of Politics and Law, Minister of the Organization Department of the Sichuan Provincial Committee, Minister of Social Work Department, and Director of the Party School of the Provincial Committee (Sichuan Administrative College).
Cai Shenkun, an independent commentator, expressed in his latest video program that Jin Lei is a mediocre individual. He smoothly progressed from Mayor of Anyang in Henan to the Secretary of the Municipal Committee in Deyang, Sichuan, without making noteworthy achievements and yet swiftly entering the ranks of the provincial Standing Committee Members. Cai suggested that this indicates there may be “special factors” at play behind the scenes.
He pointed out that in the past, the Secretaries of Shenzhen were often considered “political stars” like Ma Xingrui. However, the current criteria for selecting personnel has fundamentally changed, with the emphasis now on employing mediocre individuals with low influence and less prominent faction backgrounds. The priority for the authorities is political loyalty, with capabilities being less crucial.
Cai Shenkun observed that Shenzhen has long been a battleground for various factions within the CCP due to its significant economic and political resources.
In his view, the Secretary of the Shenzhen Municipal Committee serves as a ticket to the CCP Politburo. Previous Secretaries of Shenzhen were groomed as “seed players” favored by the top CCP leadership, starting in Shenzhen to enhance their performance for further advancement. Jin Lei lacks strong achievements and capabilities, indicating his appointment as Shenzhen’s Secretary is more about Xi Jinping selecting someone “absolutely loyal and without factional background” to oversee Shenzhen and safeguard his interests. This shift ensures absolute political alignment with Xi, with economic vitality being superseded by political security.
Additionally, Cai Shenkun mentioned that Shenzhen holds dual significance for Xi Jinping as both a “holy land” and a financial hub.
He noted that Xi Zhongxun spent his later years residing in Shenzhen, with Secretaries like Li Hongzhong providing exceptional care. This dynamic has become an arena for officials to demonstrate loyalty. The family members of Xi Jinping are involved in business in Shenzhen, considering it an essential place for financial gains. Each generation of important leaders tends to view Shenzhen as their private domain for control.
Cai Shenkun further proposed the concept of the “Nanyang Gang,” a political force originating from Nanyang. He mentioned that local officials in Nanyang, through maintaining ancestral temples and providing care to members of Xi’s family, have established a unique political rapport. The smooth promotion of Jin Lei from Henan to Sichuan may have followed this “Xi’s hometown line.”
He elaborated that Xi Yuanping frequently visits Nanyang, where a group of people has close ties to Xi’s family, leading to various connections between officials in Nanyang and the Xi family. Over time, the “Nanyang Gang” has evolved into a synonym for the “Xi Family Gang.”
Regarding the current Mayor of Shenzhen, Qin Weizhong, a candidate member of the 20th Central Committee of the CCP who did not assume the role of Secretary of Shenzhen, Cai Shenkun believed that this personnel decision reflects the marginalization of technocratic bureaucrats in the current political climate. Loyalty to the Party is prioritized over technical expertise in the current political atmosphere.