Recently, there have been reports about the former Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and current Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture, and Health Committee, Jing Junhai, who is rumored to have fallen from grace. On November 17th, he appeared at his alma mater, Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology. The school’s official website posted a short message and photos of Jing Junhai. Jing Junhai was criticized for overseeing the construction of a memorial for Xi Jinping’s father, being labeled as Xi’s “house slave.” Analysts believe that during the power struggle, Jing Junhai’s public appearance while under supervision may indicate whether he will be officially ousted.
Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology’s official website, Xidian News, reported on November 17th that “Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture, and Health Committee, Jing Junhai, and his team visited the university to conduct research on artificial intelligence legislation. President Gao Xinbo, Vice President Liu Hongwei, and Party Committee Standing Committee, Director of Party Affairs Office, and Minister of the Party Committee United Front Work Department, Cai Gushun, accompanied the research.”
The brief message, which is less than a hundred words, was accompanied by three photos of Jing Junhai conducting research.
Public records show that Jing Junhai was born on December 20, 1960, in Baishui, Shaanxi. He graduated from the Physics Teacher Class at the Basic Department of Northwestern Telecommunications Engineering Institute and holds a master’s degree in Semiconductor Materials and Devices from Xi’an University of Electronic Science and Technology.
Following the downfall of Xi’an Party Secretary Fang Hongwei on November 7th, multiple sources revealed that Jing Junhai, suspected of being a “lackey” for Xi Jinping, has been taken away for investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.
Australian anti-communist blogger Jiang Wangzheng was the first to expose on November 11th through self-media that “Former Jilin Provincial Party Secretary Jing Junhai was taken away for investigation by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection this afternoon, and will be sent to the Beidaihe Training Center for questioning. Information leaked from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection indicates that Jing Junhai used his influence and connections in Xi’an, Xi’an High-Tech Zone, and Xixian New Area to illegally facilitate promotions, project contracting, etc., primarily to shield Xi Jinping’s younger brother, Xi Yuanping (known as Baiyu, Baiye, Boss Bai in Shaanxi).”
Jiang Wangzheng had previously disclosed the news of Xi’an Party Secretary Fang Hongwei’s downfall on November 5th, and two days later, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection website announced Fang Hongwei’s dismissal.
Jiang Wangzheng pointed out that the case of Fang Hongwei is related to the investigation of Xi’an Party Committee Standing Committee and Propaganda Department Minister Yao Lijun. Yao Lijun is a supporter of Xi Jinping’s younger brother, Xi Yuanping.
There are also reports linking Jing Junhai to issues involving Zhao Leji and Li Zhanshu, revealing factional risks within Xi’s family army and exposing corruption within the propaganda system and the so-called red lineage of Shaanxi.
Political commentator Li Lin believes that Jing Junhai is likely making a public appearance while being monitored. He fell out of favor last year, so it is possible for further investigation. The intense internal struggle, involving Xi’s family and resonating with Xi Jinping’s power crisis, has a significant impact. It is not ruled out that various parties may reach a compromise, temporarily holding off on officially announcing Jing Junhai’s downfall for further observation.
In previous analyses, it was mentioned that Bai Shui County, Jing Junhai’s hometown, borders Fu Ping County, Xi Jinping’s hometown, both within Weinan City, Shaanxi Province. Similar to Fang Hongwei, Jing Junhai is also a fellow hometown native of Xi Jinping in Weinan. In the strict hierarchy of the Chinese Communist Party, this special relationship with the top leader is particularly crucial for their careers.
Jing Junhai began teaching at his alma mater in 1982 and did not enter politics until 1992, starting from Xi’an High-Tech Zone and gradually rising to be the Deputy Governor of Shaanxi Province, Standing Committee Member of the Provincial Party Committee, and Minister of Propaganda Department. Just before Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, Jing Junhai’s career took a crucial turn. In May of that year, shortly after becoming Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department, Jing Junhai led a large-scale construction project for Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun’s memorial.
During the construction project, Jing Junhai personally supervised the work and meticulously oversaw every detail, from feng shui, geography, vegetation layout to the monument’s inscriptions. Xi Jinping’s mother Li Zhen visited the site to inspect the location, and when Xi Jinping’s wife, Peng Liyuan, visited in early 2015, the itinerary included Jing Junhai, who was then the Minister of the Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department.
Upon the completion of Xi Zhongxun’s memorial expansion, Jing Junhai’s career soared: in July 2015, he was transferred to Deputy Minister of the Central Propaganda Department; in April 2017, he was appointed Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, serving as Cai Qi’s deputy; in October of the same year, he was elected as a candidate member of the 19th Central Committee at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party; in early 2018, he became Deputy Party Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, and Governor of Jilin Province; in November 2020, he was promoted to Party Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, becoming a prominent figure in the Communist Party.
However, on the eve of the 3rd Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party in June 2024, the 63-year-old Jing Junhai was removed from his position as Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, and on September 13th of the same year, he was appointed as the Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture, and Health Committee. Jing Junhai, who had made significant contributions to the construction of Xi Zhongxun’s memorial, was suddenly announced to step down, sparking public speculation.