At the heart of a recent development in Beijing, Xia Linmao, a standing committee member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the deputy mayor, has been placed under investigation, confirming previous rumors. He is known for being a former colleague of Cai Qi, the current standing committee member of the CPC Political Bureau in Beijing. Analysts believe Xia Linmao’s downfall represents another heavy blow to Cai Qi.
According to the official announcement from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission on October 22, Xia Linmao, a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee and the deputy mayor, is being investigated for serious violations of discipline and the law.
Public records indicate that the 56-year-old Xia Linmao, originally from Jiangsu province, had a long career in the planning system in Beijing. He held positions such as director of the Planning Commission’s Fangshan and Chaoyang branches and deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Planning Commission. In 2010, he transferred to the Deputy Director of the Beijing Municipal Committee Office and later served as the district mayor of Shijingshan.
During Cai Qi’s tenure as the member of the Political Bureau from 2017 to 2022, Xia Linmao served as the secretary of the Miyun District Committee, the Dongcheng District Committee, and as a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee responsible for education work. In 2023, Xia Linmao was appointed as the deputy mayor of Beijing and the deputy secretary of the municipal government party group, overseeing the day-to-day work of the city government. In 2025, he also served as the secretary of the Party Working Committee and director of the Management Committee of the Beijing Subcenter.
As outlined on the Beijing Municipal Government’s official website, Xia Linmao’s responsibilities included overseeing development and reform, finance, emergency management, foreign affairs, statistics, planning, and auditing matters for the city.
Xia Linmao is a candidate member of the 20th Central Committee of the CPC and a delegate to the 14th National People’s Congress.
Rumors of Xia Linmao’s downfall had circulated multiple times prior to the recent developments.
On October 20, independent commentator Cai Shunkun posted a prominent tweet on X platform stating that although there were online rumors about Xia Linmao being appointed as the mayor of Beijing, he received information that Xia Linmao was taken away by the disciplinary inspection commission on the 19th and, unlike previous inquiries, this time he was formally taken away and his residence was searched.
Cai Shunkun remarked that under the political backdrop of the so-called “Strict Party Governance” mentioned during the Fifth Plenary Session of the Central Committee, Cai Qi could only watch helplessly as his former trusted aide Xia Linmao was being taken down. Notably, prior to this, the arrest of Wei Xiaodong, the chairman of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), during his term had sent chills down Cai Qi’s spine. Fortunately, Wei Xiaodong was not directly linked to him.
In an earlier interview with the Epoch Times, veteran political commentator Chen Pokong expressed that while the downfall of Wei Xiaodong could be more closely related to Chen Xi, the former Minister of the Organization Department from Fujian, the fact that Wei Xiaodong was once under Cai Qi’s leadership and subsequently encountered issues speaks volumes. During Cai Qi’s tenure as the Beijing Municipal Committee secretary, the force behind the removal of “low-end populations,” Xia Linmao, has now found himself in trouble. The confirmation of Xia Linmao’s misdeeds is another significant blow to Cai Qi.
Chen Pokong suggested that Xi Jinping’s emphasis on “Comprehensive and Strict Party Governance” during the Fifth Plenary Session may lead to many reflecting on Cai Qi’s substantial corruption issues. If you aim for comprehensive and strict governance of the party, shouldn’t Cai Qi be the first to be addressed? If Cai Qi cannot be corrected due to his status as a member of the Political Bureau, then those around him will be held accountable. Many may submit reports, putting Xi Jinping in a passive position. Therefore, the current situation is unfavorable for Cai Qi.