Recently, Xi Jinping’s trusted aides or officials affiliated with Xi’s faction have been successively transferred from important positions, fallen from grace, or retired early, sparking speculation about the stability of his power. Some political analysts believe that this may be a signal of anti-Xi forces exerting pressure, indicating that Xi Jinping’s power has been weakened to some extent. However, some analysts argue that Xi Jinping still firmly controls the situation, with no internal party force capable of truly challenging him.
On September 28, there were personnel changes in the senior leadership of the National University of Defense Technology of the Communist Party of China. Chen Guoqiang, a member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC Central Committee, full-time deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Central Military Commission and deputy director of the Central Military Commission Supervisory Committee, has been transferred to serve as the political commissar of the university.
Public records show that Chen Guoqiang, a Han Chinese, was born in April 1963 in Gu Cheng, Hebei Province, and holds the military rank of Air Force Major General. Previously, Fu Aiguo served as the political commissar of the National University of Defense Technology. Fu had held positions such as Minister of the Air Force Political Department, Political Commissar of the Air Force Shanghai Base, Deputy Political Commissar of the Southern Theater Air Force, and Director of the Political Work Department, with the rank of Major General.
The National University of Defense Technology originated from the Military Engineering College established in Harbin in 1953 by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, known as “Harbin Military Engineering.” It is a comprehensive research-oriented institution of higher education directly under the Central Military Commission of the CPC. In 1970, the college relocated to Changsha, Hunan, and was renamed Changsha Institute of Technology. In 1978, it was rebuilt as the National University of Defense Technology.
Independent commentator Xiang posted on the social media platform X, stating that Chen Guoqiang is the core deputy of Xi Jinping’s military “anti-corruption” work, a “trusted minister of the Xi family.” Xiang wrote: “Chen Guoqiang is the specific executor of major cases in the military involving Li Shangfu, Wei Fenghe, Li Yuchao, and others, and the enforcer of major purges in the military, a figure like Zhou Xing and trusted minister.”
Zhou Xing and trusted minister were notorious figures during the Tang Dynasty under the rule of Empress Wu Zetian. After the death of Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, Wu Zetian monopolized political power. To consolidate her power, Wu Zetian encouraged denunciations, expanded prisons, and eradicated dissidents and the influence of the Li and Tang clans. In this context, figures like Zhou Xing and trusted minister emerged as ruthless enforcers under Wu Zetian’s reign.
Xiang stated that there are signs of power transfer in the leadership of the CCP’s military. Through measures such as adjusting the appointment of commanders of several major war zones, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia gradually gained control of military leadership. Chen Guoqiang’s transfer is the first confirmation of a senior leader affiliated with Xi that has fallen from grace publicly. Xiang believes that Chen Guoqiang’s “reassignment” to the National University of Defense Technology as a political commissar indicates significant resistance to Xi Jinping’s advancement of the “anti-corruption” campaign within the military, presenting a delicate situation.
Political analyst Chen Pokong, who is based in the United States, also stated in his independent media program that Chen Guoqiang’s sudden transfer to the National University of Defense Technology as a political commissar is essentially a demotion. He mentioned that Chen Guoqiang played a key role in Xi Jinping’s sweeping purge in the military, having been responsible for investigating two former Defense Ministers and three Rocket Forces Lieutenant Generals. Chen believes that Chen Guoqiang’s transfer from a core position is not arranged by Xi Jinping but is an action by anti-Xi forces, indicating a waning of Xi Jinping’s military authority and a weakening of his power base.
Cao Xingxin, the Deputy General Manager of China Unicom and a long-time official at the Central Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (referred to as the “Central Organization Department”), has recently come under investigation.
On September 28, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the CPC Central Committee and the National Supervisory Commission website announced that Cao Xingxin is under review and investigation.
Public records show that Cao Xingxin was born in October 1966 and had served as Deputy Director of the Fourth Bureau of the Central Organization Department, Inspector and Deputy Director of the Office of Public Servants Management, Deputy Director of the Third Bureau of Public Servants, and Principal of the Party Committee and Deputy Dean (at the level of departmental official) at the National School of Administration.
In January 2023, Cao Xingxin was appointed as Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Group, and in March of the same year, he became the Senior Vice President of China United Network Communications Limited until his investigation.
China Unicom has long been considered a hotspot for corruption and has been a target of Xi’s administration for the past decade. On January 6, 2009, China Netcom and China Unicom merged to form China Unicom, now one of China’s major telecommunications groups. It is widely believed that China Unicom has close ties to the late paramount leader of the Communist Party of China, Jiang Zemin’s son, Jiang Mianheng, and is considered a territory of Jiang’s interests. When China Unicom was established, Jiang Zemin wrote an inscription for it.
Cao Xingxin was transferred from the National School of Administration of the Central Organization Department to China Unicom in early 2023. Since Xi Jinping took office, Chen Xi, Xi’s classmate, has been in control of the real power of the Central Organization Department, promoting and nurturing his own allies within the Central Organization Department.
In a recent article penned by the Chinese media outlet Caixin, it was mentioned that Cao Xingxin was in charge of investment, legal affairs, and customer service during his tenure at Unicom. An insider revealed: “This issue stems from the place he worked before, not at Unicom.”
Recently, the former Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and former Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Party Committee, Jing Junhai, who oversaw the expansion of Xi Jinping’s father Xi Zhongxun’s mausoleum in Shaanxi, was announced to have retired early. On September 13, Jing Junhai was appointed as Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture, and Health Committee, leading to widespread speculation.
Public records show that Jing Junhai, born in December 1960 in Baishui, Weinan, Shaanxi, served in Shaanxi for a long time, relocated from Shaanxi to Beijing in 2015, and subsequently held positions such as Deputy Minister of the Central Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of Beijing Municipal Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of Jilin Provincial Party Committee, and Governor. He became the Secretary of Jilin Provincial Party Committee in 2020.
Jing Junhai has been regarded as a close ally of Xi Jinping. During his tenure in Shaanxi, Jing Junhai planned and promoted the expansion of Xi Jinping’s father Xi Zhongxun’s relatively small tomb into a mausoleum.
In June this year, Jing Junhai stepped down as Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, with the position being taken over by Huang Qiang, who was the Governor of Sichuan Province at the time. The official announcement by the CPC stated that Jing Junhai was no longer serving as the Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee and said he had been “appointed to another position.”
In various personnel arrangements from the central to local levels of the CPC, the phrase “appointed to another position” is often used. Typically, after being informed of being “appointed to another position,” officials are commonly transferred at the same level. Some officials who are “appointed to another position” have even received further promotion and trust.
At the time, there were analyses suggesting that Jing Junhai’s career prospects remained bright, and he might even be promoted to a member of the Central Politburo or a secretary of the Central Secretariat. However, this seemingly trustworthy military official from the Xi family, retired early before reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65, which surprised many.
Chen Pokong believes that this is also a move by the anti-Xi faction. During the 20th Third Plenary Session of the CPC in July this year, rumors circulated about Xi Jinping suffering a stroke or serious illness. Although Xi Jinping is still active, since the Third Plenary Session, the anti-Xi faction has significantly intensified its crackdown on his trusted aides, indicating a notable weakening of Xi Jinping’s power.
Independent political commentator and writer Cai Shunkun believes that Jing Junhai may have done something during his tenure that displeased Xi Jinping after being promoted, leading to his demotion.
Cai Shunkun told Dajiyuan reporters that even those approved by Xi Jinping, once he feels that the other party is disloyal to him, Xi Jinping will not hesitate to abandon them. He believes that Xi Jinping still firmly holds power in the political and military fields, with hardly any forces capable of balancing or influencing him.