Recently, the Communist Party of China held an Armed Forces Work Conference in Beijing, indicating a change in leadership within the Beijing Garrison Zone. The newly appointed official, Zhu Jun, has a background that is difficult to find through internet searches. The upcoming Third Plenary Session of the CPC next month is attracting attention due to the news of leadership changes.
According to the report from Beijing TV on the conference held on the 6th, Zhu Jun, the political commissar of the Beijing Garrison Zone, chaired the meeting and revealed for the first time that there has been a change in leadership within the Garrison Zone. However, it is currently challenging to find background information on the new political commissar, Army Major General Zhu Jun, through public channels.
Footage from the news showed Zhu Jun seated on the left side of the chair at the Beijing Armed Forces Work Conference, responsible for presiding over the meeting. He was dressed in army uniform and wore the insignia of a major general. Also present on the platform were Beijing Municipal Party Secretary, Beijing Garrison Zone Party Committee Secretary Yin Li, Beijing Municipal Party Committee Standing Committee member, and Beijing Garrison Zone Commander Fu Wenhu.
The Beijing Garrison Zone is a provincial-level military region responsible for defending the capital. The garrison troops are referred to as the “Imperial Guard” in the community. They guard important areas like Zhongnanhai during peace time and provide cover for senior Communist Party officials during wartime retreats. Controlling the Beijing Garrison Zone is said to be equivalent to holding half of Beijing in one’s hand. The appointment of the Garrison Zone Commander has historically been designated by the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, appointing individuals they trust.
In the military reform of 2015, various provincial-level military regions (or garrison districts) came under the jurisdiction of the National Defense Mobilization Department of the Central Military Commission. However, there were three exceptions, namely, the Beijing Garrison Zone, the Xinjiang Military Region, and the Tibet Military Region, which were placed under the management of the Army, retaining their combat functions and ensuring they are “ready to fight at any time.”
The political commissar and commander of the Beijing Garrison Zone changed around 2020. Zhang Fandi was transferred to the position of political commissar of the Beijing Garrison Zone in December 2019, and the following year in July, state media reported that Fu Wenhu took over as commander, leading the “Imperial Guard.”
On July 14, 2020, Beijing held a televised telephone conference on conscription work for 2020, chaired by Fu Wenhu, the commander of the Garrison Zone.
This is the first time the official Communist Party of China revealed the news that Fu Wenhu, former Chief of Staff of the PLA’s 81st Group Army, took over as the commander of the Garrison Zone, indicating that after stepping down as a member of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee in May 2020, Wang Chunning also relinquished his position as commander of the Beijing Garrison Zone.
Wang Chunning stepping down from his position in the Beijing Garrison Zone coincided with the eve of the Communist Party leadership meeting in Beidaihe. Almost every year, the Beidaihe meeting is filled with rumors of intense power struggles among top Communist Party officials.
With the Twentieth Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China set to be held in July, the news of leadership changes in the Garrison Zone has recently sparked attention and discussion.