Former Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Chinese Communist Party, Wang Qishan’s teacher, Honorary President of Northwest University, and Director of the Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture, Zhang Qizhi, passed away recently due to illness. Wang Qishan, who has been targeted by the current CCP leader Xi Jinping in recent years, has been rumored to be under house arrest.
Northwest University in mainland China issued an obituary yesterday (20th), stating that Zhang Qizhi passed away in Xi’an on the 19th due to illness, at the age of 100.
Public records show that Zhang Qizhi was born in Nantong, Jiangsu in 1926, graduated from the Department of Philosophy at Peking University, and joined Tsinghua University’s Institute of Humanities in 1950. In 1952, he went to Northwest University to teach and held positions such as Director, Vice President, and President of the History Department at Northwest University. He later became the Honorary President of Northwest University, Director of the Institute of Chinese Thought and Culture, and a professor at the Institute of Thought and Culture at Tsinghua University.
In the 1970s, when Wang Qishan was studying at the History Department of Northwest University, Zhang Qizhi was his respected teacher. After Wang Qishan became Vice Premier, he visited Zhang Qizhi in Xi’an in 2011. When Wang Qishan was in charge of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, Zhang Qizhi mentioned in an interview that Wang Qishan invited some historians to give presentations at the central level after he took charge of anti-corruption, showing that “he has not forgotten to learn from historical experiences”.
After graduating from high school in 1969, Wang Qishan went to work as a “educated youth” in Fengzhuang Commune in Yan’an, Shaanxi, where he befriended Xi Jinping, who was also an “educated youth” in Liangjiahe, Yan’an at that time. In 1971, Wang Qishan began working at the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and was recommended in 1973 to study in the regular class of the History Department at Northwest University while working, completing a 3-year program. After graduating in 1976, he continued working at the Shaanxi Provincial Museum for a total of 8 years.
Subsequently, Wang Qishan entered the official career path. After the 18th National Congress of the CCP, Wang Qishan became Xi’s “tiger-hunting team leader”, helping Xi capture a group of party, government, and military officials promoted by Jiang Zemin and Zeng Qinghong, which strengthened Xi’s control over the highest power of the CCP. At that time, the CCP system was even referred to as the “Xi-Wang system”.
However, after the 19th National Congress of the CCP, Wang Qishan stepped down and was reassigned as the Vice President, which was considered a relatively idle position. Subsequently, many of Wang Qishan’s former close associates were purged, including Dong Hong, former Deputy Head of the Central Inspection Team, who had long served as Wang Qishan’s “chief secretary”, Tian Huiyu, former President of China Merchants Bank who had served as Wang Qishan’s secretary during his tenure at China Construction Bank, Fan Yifei, former Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China who had been the “financial chief” during Wang Qishan’s time at China Construction Bank, and Zhou Liang, who had served as Wang Qishan’s personal secretary for 20 years, among others.
In June, the American magazine “Foreign Policy” revealed that in order to ensure his re-election at the 21st National Congress of the CCP, after cleansing the ranks of senior military officials like Zhang Yuxia, Xi Jinping has now turned his focus to heavyweight senior Party members, with his former ally Wang Qishan being the latest target of suppression.
The article stated that Wang Qishan has never disobeyed Xi and has faithfully carried out Xi’s will. However, Xi is known for his suspicious nature, and Wang’s reputation, potential political influence, and extensive connections within the CCP have put Xi on edge. It is reported that although the Beijing authorities have not publicly charged Wang Qishan with any crimes, he is effectively under house arrest in Beijing.