On September 12th, Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping met with Indian Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi. The Director of the Central Security Bureau, Zhou Hongxu, made a rare appearance alongside Xi and other officials.
According to footage from China’s CCTV news broadcast, Director Zhou Hongxu was seen at the “Modi-Xi Meeting” on the 12th, seated between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu (Ministerial Level) and the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Hong Lei. Unlike his usual military attire, Zhou Hongxu was dressed in a suit with a blue tie, sporting a crew cut and glasses.
The Central Security Bureau is primarily responsible for protecting the top Chinese leaders and the security of Zhongnanhai. It is subordinate to the General Office of the Communist Party of China and the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission. However, it is rare for the director to publicly participate in leader meetings, usually serving as an accompanying escort.
For example, during the G20 and Modi-Xi meetings held on Bali Island, Indonesia in November 2022, Zhou Hongxu was present to safeguard Xi Jinping. On November 17, 2023, when Xi attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in San Francisco and conversed with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, images showed Zhou Hongxu standing by Xi’s side.
In the era of Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, the Directors of the Central Security Bureau, Yang Dezhong and You Xigui, also served as Deputy Directors of the General Office. However, it is unclear if Zhou Hongxu currently holds the position of Deputy Director of the General Office, as his public military rank is Major General.
Public records indicate that Zhou Hongxu, born in 1971 in Chongqing, holds a master’s degree from the Army Artillery Academy. He previously served as the Commander of the 40th Artillery Regiment of the 14th Group Army and held positions such as Director of Military Training Department at the Chengdu Military Region Command and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Northern Theater Command. In 2020, Zhou Hongxu succeeded the position of Director of the Central Security Bureau following the second major reshuffle after Xi Jinping took office. However, it was discovered through official CCP media that Zhou Hongxu had already joined the Central Security Bureau as Xi’s close protector as early as 2018.
Major General Chen Denglv, hailing from Minnan, Fujian, of the 31st Group Army in Zhangzhou, was appointed as Deputy Director of the Central Security Bureau and Political Commissar of the Central Security Regiment in November 2020.
The Central Security Bureau is currently under the control of the Director of the General Office, Cai Qi, who is a close confidant of Xi Jinping and belongs to the “Fujian Gang.”
Due to its proximity to top officials, the Central Security Bureau has been involved in several political incidents in history. In the era of Xi Jinping’s authoritarian rule, the Central Security Bureau has evolved into a tool for monitoring, encompassing both current and former party-state leaders within its surveillance scope.
Zhou Hongxu’s background has previously drawn attention. Network writer Song Zheng, who previously served in the mainland army, analyzed and wrote for Epoch Times, suggesting that Zhou Hongxu had been stationed in the “suspected mutinous army” of the 14th Group Army in Yunnan from at least 2005 until the autumn of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012. In 2008, he was even “received” by Guo Boxiong on the front lines of earthquake relief efforts. Both Guo and Bo are considered “ambitious figures” by the authorities under Xi Jinping’s regime.
After the Wang Lijun incident in 2012, there were rumors that Bo Xilai attempted to utilize the 14th Group Army stationed in Yunnan, established by his father, Bo Yibo, to launch a “coup” or exert pressure on the central government, but these accounts were never officially confirmed.
Independent commentator Du Zheng once wrote for Taiwan’s United Daily News, stating that during Zhang Yuxia’s tenure as the Commander of the 40th Division of the 14th Group Army from 1990 to 1994, Zhou Hongxu studied at a military academy and then served as an officer at the company level within the 14th Group Army. The possibility of Zhang Yuxia recommending Zhou Hongxu for the role of Director of the Central Security Bureau is significant.
Furthermore, independent commentator Cai Shunkun previously analyzed that Zhang Yuxia had considerable connections in the 14th Group Army and Chengdu Military Region, potentially having had direct interactions with Zhou Hongxu. Zhang Yuxia, as a professional military officer experienced in artillery coordination and a senior commander, would have been capable of providing a fair assessment of Zhou Hongxu’s professional qualities and leadership abilities. The likelihood of Zhang Yuxia recommending Zhou Hongxu over others is high.
Since Zhang Yuxia was removed from his post as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission earlier this year, the circumstances behind Zhou Hongxu’s reappointment remain unclear.
In an earlier article, Du Zheng pointed out that while there have been no reports of the Central Security Bureau being implicated during the military cleanse period, the reliability of those close to Xi Jinping remains uncertain. Members of the Central Security Bureau, known as the bodyguards of Zhongnanhai, project a tough and vigorous image, yet under Xi’s authoritative command, if they are treated as servants, it is not surprising that some among them may develop dissent over time.