On April 28, the Chinese Communist Party announced a significant shake-up in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, with the appointment of Zhang Zhu as the Party Secretary of the ministry, replacing Han Jun. It is anticipated that Zhang Zhu will assume the role of Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
Zhang Zhu, a 58-year-old official born in February 1968 in Ningxia, has held various positions within the party, including Secretary of the Urumqi Municipal Committee in Xinjiang and Deputy Secretary of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region. He was recently promoted to the rank of full department-level official.
Han Jun, born in December 1963 in Shandong, is a Ph.D. in agricultural studies and has held several high-ranking positions, including Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. In 2024, he was appointed as the Minister after his predecessor, Tang Renjian, was investigated.
Despite being only 62 years old and not yet reaching the retirement age for a full department-level official, Han Jun was replaced as the Party Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. Speculation suggests that the official announcement regarding the appointment or removal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs will be made on April 30 during the closing session of the National People’s Congress.
Official reports did not disclose Han Jun’s current whereabouts, nor did they mention any potential future assignments for him. Prior online rumors suggested that Han Jun was under investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Independent commentator Cai Shunkun revealed on April 28 that rumors of Han Jun’s downfall had been circulating for some time. There were speculations of a significant demotion for Han Jun, as well as the possibility of a public reprimand. Han Jun himself reportedly cooperated with the investigations, shifting some of the blame onto his audacious wife.
Cai Shunkun later added on the 29th that according to official reports, Han Jun was still addressed as “comrade,” which may indicate a demotion from a full departmental official to a lower rank. During the era of Xi Jinping, many officials have faced demotions quietly without public announcement.
The final outcome of Han Jun’s career and the official treatment he will receive are still subjects of observation and speculation, as authorities continue to closely monitor the situation.