After the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, Xi Jinping’s numerous confidants have taken control of crucial positions, but they are not a united front. Analysis suggests that despite holding key positions, Cai Qi, Li Xi, Wang Xiaohong, and Chen Yixin are currently in favor but are also attracting criticism due to their actions.
On November 26, Taiwan’s “Up Media” published Du Zheng’s analysis of Xi Jinping’s four major “right-hand men.” The article mentioned that Cai Qi, the top “right-hand man,” has shifted from closely watching senior CCP officials to monitoring the entire society.
As the member of the Politburo of the CCP in charge of ideology and propaganda and the First Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Cai Qi’s influence has become more prominent since also taking on the role of Director of the General Office of the Central Committee. He not only accompanies Xi Jinping on various occasions but also controls the Central Security Bureau, closely monitoring a multitude of high-ranking officials, including retired members of the Politburo. The security bureau under Cai Qi’s command doesn’t merely serve as protection for political veterans but more as surveillance personnel.
Cai Qi also effectively manages the CCP’s National Security Commission on behalf of Xi Jinping, holding the newly created position of the third vice-chairperson. Additionally, as the Director of the General Office of the Central Committee, Cai Qi also serves as the head of the National Security Commission Office.
The newly established Central Department of Social Work in 2023, a new stability maintenance institution and a total power patch, is also under the control of Cai Qi.
However, the article points out that due to Cai Qi’s overbearing nature, he poses a threat to Premier Li Keqiang, such as wresting the comprehensive management authority over national secrets from Li Keqiang. Rumors of discord between Cai and Li have been circulating for some time, potentially leading to trouble for Cai in the future.
The second prominent “right-hand man” is Li Xi, who heads the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. His campaigns against corruption are more forceful than those of Wang Qishan and Zhao Leji, making officials both fear and resent him. After Li Xi took office, officials in the CCP have become inclined to do less, fearing more mistakes. The prevalence of officials, particularly male and female officials, focusing more on personal affairs rather than political duties has led to an increase in scandals. This administrative negligence within the CCP paves the way for the eventual downfall of Xi’s administration.
The third “right-hand man,” Minister of Public Security of the CCP, Wang Xiaohong, served as Xi Jinping’s former aide in Fuzhou and has gradually gained control of the actual power within the Ministry of Public Security, with his loyalists spread out across the national public security system.
Du Zheng noted that with Xi Jinping’s support and Wang Xiaohong’s control of a vast social stability force, including the ability to monitor vice-ministerial level leaders through the Public Security Bureau, Wang Xiaohong operates openly and doesn’t hold the Premier Li Keqiang of the Zhejiang faction in high regard.
The article also touches upon the fourth “right-hand man,” Chen Yixin, who took over the Ministry of State Security and despite being over 65, is reportedly ambitious for further promotion. Since his appointment, the Ministry of State Security has become increasingly high-profile, frequently making statements across various domains such as diplomacy and finance.
However, Du Zheng remarked that Chen Yixin’s power-grabbing actions, including encroaching on the traditional territory of the Ministry of Public Security domestically, have stirred dissatisfaction within the CCP. The national security police of the CCP, often invoking Xi Jinping’s so-called “comprehensive national security concept,” have requested cooperation from various departments and engaged in monitoring and tracking officials, sparking criticism within the CCP’s administrative circle. This discontent also extends to his superiors including Chen Wencheng and even Cai Qi, as Chen Yixin has a direct line to Xi Jinping in the realm of national security and often bypasses Cai Qi.
The article concludes by stating that despite the influence of Xi’s major “right-hand men,” their individual power is not as significant as that of a “gun barrel.” If the rumored Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, Zhang Youxia, were to instigate a military rebellion in the future, the ambitions and future plans of these “right-hand men” would amount to nothing.