On January 20, the Minister of the Organization Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Shi Taifeng, who was absent from the opening ceremony of the “special seminar” for provincial and ministerial-level officials of the CCP, made an appearance today (23rd) to preside over the closing ceremony of the seminar. In contrast, CCP’s Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia, who was also absent from the opening ceremony, continued to be absent, sparking rumors about his “incident”.
According to the report by CCP’s Central Television, the closing ceremony of the “special seminar” for provincial and ministerial-level officials of the CCP on the Fourth Plenary Session of the Twentieth Central Committee took place on Friday afternoon (January 23) at the Central Party School, with CCP Politburo Standing Committee member and Secretary of the Central Secretariat Cai Qi attending and giving a speech. The Minister of the Organization Department of the Central Secretariat, Shi Taifeng, who is also a Secretary of the Central Secretariat, presided over the closing ceremony together with Cai Qi sitting on the podium.
Central Secretariat Secretaries Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, Chen Wenqing, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong, and others were also present at the closing ceremony. Several members of the Political Bureau, including Huang Kunming, Yuan Jiajun, Yin Li, Chen Min’er, Chen Jin, were in attendance. However, members such as Zhang Guoqing, Liu Guozhong, and Li Hongzhong did not attend the closing ceremony.
The “special seminar” commenced on the morning of the 20th at the Central Party School. CCP leader Xi Jinping delivered a speech. CCTV footage revealed several Political Bureau members absent from the meeting, including Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia, former Xinjiang Secretary Ma Xingrui, Minister of the Organization Department of the Central Committee Shi Taifeng, and Vice Premier He Lifeng.
He Lifeng was reported to be attending the Davos Forum in Switzerland, while Ma Xingrui has been absent from multiple important occasions, sparking rumors of his downfall. The reasons behind the absence of the other three individuals remain unknown.
Former Inner Mongolia official Du Wen previously stated on social media that it was particularly unusual for Shi Taifeng not to attend this meeting. Organizing learning activities for these cadres is precisely the responsibility of the Organization Department, and Shi Taifeng is the last person who should be absent.
Shi Taifeng is also a Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). When the CPPCC held a symposium to analyze the macroeconomic situation for 2025 on the 21st, official media reports did not mention Shi Taifeng’s presence. CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning attended and spoke at the symposium, while CPPCC Vice Chairman Wang Yong presided over the meeting, with Vice Chairs Hu Chunhua, Bartel, Gao Yunlong, Wang Dongfeng, He Baoxiang, Zhu Yongxin, and Yang Zhen also in attendance. For the past two years, similar symposiums have been chaired by Shi Taifeng.
The reasons for Shi Taifeng’s absence from the past two meetings are currently unclear.
In addition, newly appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin and Minister of National Defense Dong Jun attended the opening ceremony on the 20th, but on the 23rd, Minister Dong was present while Vice Chairman Zhang was not. Committee member Liu Zhenli was absent from both the opening and closing ceremonies.
Independent commentator Cai Shunkun previously revealed that 17 senior military officials, including Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli, were arrested. The Ministry of Public Security Special Police Bureau, Central Security Bureau, and Central Commission for Discipline Inspection all participated in the arrests, which are equivalent to a major military revolt. It is rumored that the news of Zhang Youxia and others being arrested has been reported to provincial and ministerial-level officials. However, this information has not been confirmed yet.