During the 4th Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) held last month, several central alternate committee members were bypassed when it came to filling central committee positions, including Fang Hongwei, a member of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of the Xi’an Municipal Committee. On November 5th and 6th, Fang Hongwei was conspicuously absent from important meetings, sparking discussions on Chinese social media and even rumors circulating abroad claiming that he had been taken away by CCP disciplinary officials. Fang Hongwei’s relationship with CCP leader Xi Jinping and current Vice Premier Liu Guozhong has drawn attention.
Several prominent mainland Chinese social media influencers posted online on November 6th about Fang Hongwei’s repeated absences from official events, implying that something may have happened to him.
On November 5th, Shaanxi Provincial Committee Secretary Zhao Yide held a special meeting in Xi’an where Xi’an Municipal Committee Secretary Fang Hongwei was absent. On November 6th, a series of activities by China Central Radio and Television Station and the opening ceremony of the Shaanxi Provincial Station were held in Xi’an. Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Director of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, attended the event along with Shen Haixiong, Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department and Director of China Central Radio and Television Station, to unveil the opening of the Shaanxi Provincial Station. Vice Secretary of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Governor Zhao Gang also attended the event. Fang Hongwei, Secretary of the Xi’an Municipal Committee, was absent, while Deputy Secretary and Mayor Ye Niuping were present.
One blogger mentioned that Fang Hongwei took office on November 7, 2021, and has been in the position for four years now.
Another blogger wrote, “Previously, Fang Hongwei liked the cigarette brand ‘555,’ but he quit smoking after a fire… He also enjoyed playing badminton… Are Fang’s siblings involved in Shanqi-related industries? They’ve passed inspections three times, expanding the market, but some colleagues say he’s caused trouble for Xi’an. Will things turn out like Wei Minzhou…”
An internet user commented, “It’s time for an official announcement, either today or tomorrow.”
These posts have not been deleted from tightly controlled platforms like Weibo.
On the website of the Shaanxi Provincial Science and Technology Department, a report from a day earlier about Fang Hongwei’s visit to the National Key Laboratory for Metal Forming Technology and Heavy Equipment was removed.
On an overseas platform, screenshots of a post claimed that on November 5th, Xi’an Municipal Committee Secretary Fang Hongwei was taken away by disciplinary officials while conducting a research visit in Chang’an District. Witnesses saw Fang Hongwei’s face turn pale and his legs grow weak, causing him to lose control of his bladder, which shocked the surrounding people.
However, there has been no official confirmation regarding Fang Hongwei’s situation.
According to the CCP’s 4th Plenary Session communique, 11 alternative central committee members were promoted to central committee positions. Apart from Deputy Political Commissar of the Rocket Force Ding Xingnong, who was bypassed in the previous 3rd Plenary Session, 7 more individuals were bypassed this time, including Wang Jiayi, Deputy Minister of Education of the CCP, Xi’an Municipal Committee Secretary Fang Hongwei, and Shi Yugang, Deputy Secretary of the Party Group of the Yunnan Provincial Political Consultative Conference. The other officials promoted were all from the military.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) cited analysis from Song Wendi, a China researcher at the American Atlantic Council, stating that “there is a high chance they are currently under investigation.”
However, the aforementioned three civilian officials had made public appearances starting from October 24, indicating that they were still working as usual. On October 24, the Shaanxi Provincial Standing Committee held a meeting where footage of Fang Hongwei attending was broadcasted on Shaanxi TV. On October 31, Fang Hongwei conducted research on rural revitalization in Chang’an District, which was reported by local official media. On November 3, the 2025 Qin Innovation Development Forum and Hard Technology Innovation Conference opened in Xi’an. Zhao Yide, Secretary of the Provincial Committee, attended the opening ceremony, along with Governor Zhao Gang, and Fang Hongwei also participated.
Political commentator Li Linyi previously told the press that being bypassed during the promotion to central committee membership indicates a lack of trust, and according to CCP rules, these high-ranking officials are subject to internal scrutiny. They are essentially working under surveillance and could be taken down at any moment.
Public records show that Fang Hongwei, born in June 1966, is from Fuping, Shaanxi, which is also Xi Jinping’s hometown. He is a graduate of Tsinghua University’s Automotive Engineering Department. He previously served as the Chairman of Shanqi Group, then became the Secretary of the Hanzhong Municipal Committee of the CCP in July 2020. In May 2021, he was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Secretary-General of the Provincial Committee, and in November 2021, he was appointed as the Secretary of the Xi’an Municipal Committee of the CCP. He has been known as a close associate of Vice Premier Liu Guozhong, who is currently in office and previously managed Shaanxi.
There have been speculations before that Fang Hongwei’s political backing might be Xi Jinping himself, as they both hail from Fuping, Shaanxi, and are alumni of Tsinghua University.