On August 17, former Chinese Communist Party leader Jiang Zemin celebrated his centenary. Former Minister of the Central Organization Department, Chen Xi, who had recently stepped down and was surrounded by negative rumors, made an appearance at the official commemorative event.
The live broadcast on CCTV, the Chinese state television, showed retired high-level CCP officials such as Wen Jiabao, Wang Qishan, Wang Yang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Li Zhanshu, and Zeng Qinghong attending the event. Chen Xi, along with other former members of the Central Political Bureau, sat in a row.
Chen Xi is a close ally of current CCP leader Xi Jinping. After Xi took power at the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, Chen Xi was promoted to the position of Executive Vice Minister of the Central Organization Department. At the 19th National Congress, Chen Xi was appointed as the Minister of the Central Organization Department and entered the Politburo, subsequently taking on the role of President of the Central Party School, a position conventionally held by a member of the Politburo Standing Committee (then Wang Huning). Chen Xi has long been in charge of personnel matters for Xi.
In June of this year, 72-year-old Chen Xi successively resigned from his position as President of the Central Party School (National School of Administration). Both positions are now held concurrently by Politburo Standing Committee Member Cai Qi.
On July 3rd, independent commentator Du Zheng wrote in Taiwan’s media, “Shang Bao,” that there was infighting between Cai Qi and Chen Xi, both prominent figures within the Fujian faction. Cai Qi wanted Chen Xi to take the blame for the personnel failures of Xi Jinping’s administration, and Chen Xi himself had some hidden weaknesses exposed.
Du Zheng mentioned that Chongqing Mayor Hu Henghua was investigated in March, reportedly for involvement in a bribery case related to San’an Optoelectronics from Fujian. Lin Xiucheng, the former richest man in Xiamen and the actual controller of San’an Optoelectronics, as well as Lin Xiucheng’s son-in-law Lin Kechuang, were subsequently arrested. Lin Xiucheng had a hidden connection with Chen Xi. During Chen Xi’s tenure at Tsinghua University, he had dealings with Lin Xiucheng. Chen Xi’s downfall is the result of various factors, but fundamentally, it was Cai Qi’s doing.
In a previous article, independent commentator Cai Shunkun stated that as Xi Jinping’s most trusted personnel and organizational strategist, Chen Xi had been leading the cadre and personnel work of the CCP for nearly 15 years, and was involved in all major personnel arrangements since Xi took office. However, many officials recommended and promoted by Chen Xi subsequently faced various problems. These officials also sparked widespread dissatisfaction among various factions within the party, leading to Chen Xi gradually becoming a target of criticism.
The fate of Chen Xi remains to be observed.