Recently, a revelation from a Hong Kong media outlet with Chinese funding has sparked controversy, suggesting that a child of a “certain member of the Politburo Standing Committee in Beijing” has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of an economic department, overseeing daily affairs. The committee member in question is speculated to be Cai Qi. Analysts believe that this disclosure by the Hong Kong media may be related to internal power struggles at high levels.
Alibaba-owned Hong Kong newspaper, South China Morning Post reported on May 6th, citing sources, that as China’s economy faces challenges, more and more offspring of officials are opting to join the government system rather than engage in business activities. Among them is a child of a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee who has entered an economic department, serving as a Deputy Minister and handling the department’s day-to-day management.
The report did not mention the identity of the official whose child was appointed. However, this revelation aligns with previous rumors about Cai Qi’s son.
In December 2024, social media influencer Yin Ke, residing in Australia, disclosed on X platform that Cai Erjin is Cai Qi’s son and currently holds the position of Deputy Minister in the Infrastructure Development Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, responsible for leading the work of the office for developing the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the commission. Yin Ke mentioned that Cai Erjin likely got promoted directly from a Level 2 research fellow to a Level 2 inspector, but his role as Deputy Minister is still within a one-year probation period.
Using the alias Jiang Wangzheng, Yin Ke, a native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, formerly served as an assistant to the branch manager at the Hangzhou branch of Ping An Bank and went into exile in Australia in 2018. Yin Ke previously revealed that his deceased uncle, Yao Zuoting, was the Deputy Director of the Zhejiang Provincial Development and Reform Commission and had connections with several high-ranking secretaries of Xi Jinping’s “Zhejiang New Army,” enabling him to frequently expose information about this group.
Yin Ke also mentioned that Cai Erjin is in charge of driving the work of the office of the leadership team for the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, which is located within the Infrastructure Development Department of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Prior reports from mainland China media stated that on the afternoon of February 21, 2019, Zhang Bin, the Director of the Economic Security Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, led his subordinates on a research visit to the Baotou Rare Earth Products Exchange. One of the subordinates accompanying him was Cai Erjin, a research fellow of the Economic Security Department.
Analysis on the self-media program “Vision of Hope” indicated that in 2019, Cai Erjin was still a Level 2 research fellow at the Economic Security Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, but now he holds the position of a Level 2 inspector at the bureau level. This position is considered advantageous.
Information from the National Development and Reform Commission’s official website shows that the main responsibilities of the Infrastructure Development Department include coordinating energy and transportation development plans as well as balancing them with national development plans. Energy and transportation are sectors in which the CCP has significant interests.
Cai Qi is regarded as a close ally of Xi Jinping, having entered the Politburo Standing Committee at the 20th National Congress of the CCP and concurrently serving as the Director of the General Office of the Central Committee.
Independent commentator Cai Shenkun mentioned on a self-media program on February 28th that according to Beijing’s political circles, authorities are planning to replace the Director of the General Office of the Central Committee. Due to being nearly 70 years old (born in December 1955) and experiencing serious health issues from prolonged nights and high stress levels, Cai Qi, as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, risks succumbing to the pressures of staying in his current position. It is said that Cai Qi made mistakes during his visit to South Africa, fell ill several times last year, and Xi Jinping did not accompany him during his medical checks.
Amid negative rumors of an imminent downfall for the CCP leader Xi Jinping, on May 19th, he made a public appearance in Luoyang, Henan, where besides inspecting the manufacturing industry, he visited the White Horse Temple and Longmen Grottoes.
From the official videos released, it can be observed that during Xi Jinping’s trip to Luoyang, General Office Director Cai Qi did not accompany him.
The current members of the Politburo Standing Committee include Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, and Li Xi. Details about the personal lives of these committee members mostly remain shrouded in mystery.
Regarding the frequent “leakage” of information about the “children of committee members” in the CCP, analysis from “Vision of Hope” suggests that this may be related to power struggles within the Zhongnanhai leadership compound.