In recent days, there has been a concentrated adjustment of provincial-level earthquake bureau leaders in several provinces including Guangdong, Henan, Hebei, Liaoning, Shaanxi, and Jilin. This news quickly sparked heated discussions on social media platforms throughout mainland China.
On July 31, the Guangdong Provincial Seismological Bureau held a high-level adjustment announcement meeting, announcing the decision of the Party Group of the Communist Party of China Seismological Bureau regarding the appointment and removal of duties for Yang Zhenyu and Sun Peiqing.
Public information shows that the newly appointed Party Secretary and Director of the Guangdong Provincial Seismological Bureau, Yang Zhenyu, male, born in April 1976, previously held positions such as Party Secretary and Director of the Liaoning Provincial Seismological Bureau.
On July 30, the Henan Provincial Seismological Bureau held a high-level adjustment announcement meeting, announcing the decision of the Communist Party of China Seismological Bureau regarding the appointment and removal of duties for Liu Chen and Zhuo Ligetu.
The new Party Secretary and Director of the Henan Provincial Seismological Bureau, Liu Chen, male, born in May 1968, previously held positions such as Party Secretary and Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Seismological Bureau.
On July 28, the Hebei Provincial Seismological Bureau convened a meeting to announce high-level adjustments, appointing Zheng Liming as the Party Secretary and Director of the Hebei Provincial Seismological Bureau, while Wang Zhishuo no longer holds the position of Party Secretary and Director of the Hebei Provincial Seismological Bureau, with other appointments made.
The new Party Secretary and Director of the Hebei Provincial Seismological Bureau, Zheng Liming, male, born in May 1969, previously held positions such as Party Member of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Seismological Bureau, and Deputy Director.
On July 25, the Liaoning Provincial Seismological Bureau held a high-level adjustment announcement meeting, announcing the decision of the Communist Party of China Seismological Bureau regarding the job adjustments of Zhai Yanzhong and Yang Zhenyu.
The new Party Secretary and Director of the Liaoning Provincial Seismological Bureau, Zhai Yanzhong, male, born in July 1973, previously held positions such as Party Secretary and Director of the Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau.
On July 24, the Shaanxi Provincial Seismological Bureau held a meeting to announce high-level adjustments, issuing a notice from the Communist Party of China Seismological Bureau regarding the appointment and removal of duties for Du Bin and Liu Chen.
The new Party Secretary and Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Seismological Bureau, Du Bin, male, born in November 1976, previously held positions such as Party Member and Deputy Director of the Sichuan Provincial Seismological Bureau.
On July 24, the Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau held a high-level adjustment announcement meeting, appointing Zhao Guangping as the Party Secretary and Director of the Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau, while Zhai Yanzhong no longer serves as the Party Secretary and Director of the Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau, with other appointments made.
The new Party Secretary and Director of the Jilin Provincial Seismological Bureau, Zhao Guangping, male, born in February 1979, previously held positions such as Party Member and Deputy Director of the Liaoning Provincial Seismological Bureau.
The recent concentrated adjustment of earthquake bureau leaders in multiple provinces quickly sparked discussions on mainland social media. Many netizens have linked this centralized leadership change to potential geological disasters, triggering speculation about a “major earthquake” warning. Some commented, “The timing of this is too sensitive, could it be that something big is about to happen?”
Others jokingly remarked, “When a new official takes office, things often heat up. Let’s hope their first ‘heat’ is not an actual earthquake.”
Some expressed concerns, “If there is really any hint of trouble, the authorities won’t openly disclose it. Such a reshuffle itself is making people anxious.”
Several comments focused on the functions of the earthquake bureau and expressed widespread skepticism about its predictive capabilities. One netizen sarcastically said, “No one in the world has figured out earthquake forecasting, changing leaders won’t change a thing. It’s more like scapegoating, as they can’t predict earthquakes anyway.”
“Can changing the bureau chief bring a breakthrough in earthquake prediction technology? If not, then this is just a formality.”
“After every major earthquake, the earthquake bureau says it can’t predict, it’s the same old story. Can this time give us some confidence?”
“I hope the new bureau chief is approachable, so I can add them on WeChat, just in case of emergencies.”
“The most frightening thing now is not the earthquake, but as soon as this news comes out, everyone is asking ‘what signal is this?’ which is making people fearful.”
In addition to the above-mentioned concentrated adjustments of provincial-level earthquake bureau leaders, according to the Liaoning Provincial Meteorological Bureau official website, on August 1, the Liaoning Provincial Meteorological Bureau held a cadre meeting and announced Mao Dongyan as the Party Secretary and Director of the Liaoning Provincial Meteorological Bureau.
Public information shows that Mao Dongyan, female, born in August 1975. Previously, Mao Dongyan served as Deputy Director (Deputy Chief) and Standing Committee Member of the National Satellite Meteorological Center (National Space Weather Monitoring and Early Warning Center). In May 2022, she also served as the overall commander of the Fengyun Meteorological Satellite Project Application System.