The 14th session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded today on March 11. During the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th CPPCC held on March 10, a “ghost list” appeared. It was considered unusual as one high-ranking official did not appear on the platform but was listed in the official media’s attendance list.
A “ghost list” typically refers to a list containing false, forged, deceased, or non-existent individuals.
According to the official website of the CPPCC, there are currently 23 Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee of the CPPCC, including notable figures such as Shi Taifeng, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Pabala Gelalangjie, and others.
The news release by the state-run Xinhua News Agency regarding the 16th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th CPPCC showed that 22 Vice Chairpersons of the National Committee were present, including almost all the officials mentioned on the list.
However, discrepancies were noted in the reports. Verification by Epoch Times showed that during the meeting, 21 Vice Chairpersons were seated on the platform. The absence of two individuals, Qin Boyong and Chen Wu, was noticeable, and no seats were reserved for them.
CCTV’s video of the closing session of the CPPCC meeting on March 11 further revealed that among the 22 Vice Chairpersons present, Qin Boyong was included, but Chen Wu was absent from the platform.
Qin Boyong had attended the opening and plenary sessions of the CPPCC meeting but was absent from the meeting of the Standing Committee on March 10. Meanwhile, Chen Wu was absent from the opening and plenary sessions but surprisingly appeared on the attendance list of the meeting of the Standing Committee.
Speculations arose regarding the unexpected appearances and absences of officials at the meetings. Analysts suggested various possibilities, including potential internal issues or health-related reasons for their absence.
Public records indicate that Qin Boyong previously held important positions in Hebei Province and later advanced to the National Committee of the CPPCC. Chen Wu, on the other hand, has a history in government in Guangxi and has held significant positions before becoming a Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC.
In recent times, both Qin Boyong and his superior, Hao Mingjin, have been notably missing from public view since late October 2025, prompting speculations about their status within the party.
The situation raises questions about whether the discrepancies in the attendance lists were intentional or if there was misreporting by the official media. The opaque operations of the Chinese Communist Party have created uncertainty and speculation among observers.