In the early hours of the opening day of the Two Sessions this March, two massive fireballs streaked across the night sky in Beijing, falling from the sky and exploding mid-descent. (Image from the internet)
People News - Amid widespread reports of turmoil within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership and rumors that Xi Jinping’s loss of power is only awaiting official confirmation, personnel reshuffles within the CCP bureaucracy continue. On February 27, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security announced a new list of appointments and dismissals from the State Council. This list includes the appointment of Wu Yanjun as Deputy Minister of Justice, Liu Jianguo as Deputy Director of the National Radio and Television Administration, and Zhang Yong as Deputy Director of the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Notably, Zhao Changhua has been dismissed from his role as Deputy Minister of Justice, Zhu Yonglei from his position as Deputy Director of the National Radio and Television Administration, and Hu Jinjun from his role as Deputy Director of the China Central Radio and Television Station. The dismissals of Zhu Yonglei and Hu Jinjun are particularly significant.
At first glance, 61-year-old Zhu Yonglei seems to have been dismissed due to age. In the CCP's narrative, dismissals can occur not only because of mistakes but also as a preliminary step before new appointments, or due to retirement or the end of a term. However, Zhu Yonglei's background is quite complex.
Born in Shanghai, Zhu Yonglei is a prominent figure in the city's propaganda sector. He has held various positions, including Executive Deputy Director and Director of Shanghai Television Station, Vice President, Secretary, and President of Shanghai Media Group, as well as Secretary and Chairman of Shanghai Oriental Pearl Group Co., Ltd. In September 2002, he stepped down as Director of Shanghai Television Station to take on roles such as Deputy Director of the Coordination Bureau for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo and Secretary of the Oriental News website. During his time as Deputy Director of the Shanghai Expo Bureau, Zhu Yonglei oversaw the development of the 'Online World Expo,' earning a first-class award for technological progress from the Shanghai Municipal Government.
Zhu Yonglei, who gained significant recognition, was appointed as the director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and Television in 2008. In April 2010, he also took on the role of director of the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics. By September 2011, he had been transferred to serve as the deputy director of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the director of both the Municipal Committee's External Propaganda Office and the Shanghai Municipal Network Propaganda Office. In June 2014, he additionally served as the deputy secretary-general of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China. In December 2019, he moved to Beijing, where he was appointed as the deputy director of the National Radio and Television Administration, until his dismissal.
Zhu Yonglei's relocation to Beijing clearly suggests that he has established connections with powerful figures, particularly Xu Lin, a former subordinate of Xi Jinping and currently viewed as a close confidant, who serves as the Secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Committee. Xu Lin, also from Shanghai, held the position of party secretary and chairman of the Shanghai Agricultural and Industrial Group in 2000. In March 2003, he became the secretary and director of the Shanghai Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau. By February 2007, he was appointed as the director of the Shanghai Municipal Agricultural Committee, and in May of that same year, he was elected as a member of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China. Notably, in March of that year, Xi Jinping was briefly transferred from Zhejiang to Shanghai as the top leader, during which he publicly introduced Xu Lin, stating, 'He is the youngest member of the leadership team, and he has also worked in Tibet.'
After Xi Jinping left Shanghai, Xu Lin went on to serve as the Secretary of the Pudong New Area Committee, and in May 2013, he became the Minister of the Propaganda Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, where he crossed paths with Zhu Yonglei, who was the Deputy Minister. The two participated in numerous activities together. For instance, at the book launch and seminar for 'Approachable: The Linguistic Power of Xi Jinping' held on November 25, 2014, both were present, with Zhu Yonglei serving as the host. During his speech, Xu Lin naturally praised Xi, urging everyone to 'deeply study, research, explain, promote, and implement' the spirit of Xi's remarks.
Xu Lin, who aligned himself with the higher authorities, quickly moved to Beijing. In June 2015, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization. The following June, he became Deputy Minister of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee, Director of the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization, Director of the National Internet Information Office, and Deputy Director of the State Council Information Office. In July 2018, he stepped down as Director of the Cyberspace Administration and took over as Director of the State Council Information Office. In May 2022, he was appointed Director and Secretary of the National Radio and Television Administration. By the end of that year, he was transferred to serve as Secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Committee, marking a remarkably rapid promotion.
Zhu Yonglei's move to Beijing at the end of 2019 to serve as Deputy Director of the National Radio and Television Administration was likely a result of following Xu Lin's trajectory, and the two briefly became colleagues again in 2022. However, for reasons unknown, Zhu Yonglei has not been able to advance further.
Hu Jinjun, who was recently removed from his position as Deputy Director of China National Radio, is expected to follow in the footsteps of Zhu Yonglei. Born in 1967 in Ningbo, Hu Jinjun has held various positions in organizations such as Shanghai Oriental Television Station, Shanghai Media Group, Shanghai World Expo Bureau, Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and Television, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics, and the Shanghai Municipal Foreign Propaganda Office (Municipal Government News Office), similar to Zhu Yonglei. At the end of 2019, after Zhu Yonglei moved to Beijing, Hu Jinjun succeeded him as the Executive Deputy Director of the Shanghai Municipal Propaganda Department, a transition that likely would not have occurred without Zhu Yonglei's endorsement, suggesting a significant connection between the two.
Reports indicate that both men are highly capable and skilled at navigating complex situations, adept at managing public opinion. After Zhu Yonglei spent several years in Beijing, Hu Jinjun was appointed as Deputy Director of China National Radio in January 2023, a role that inherently carries more authority than that of the Deputy Director of the Shanghai Propaganda Department.
However, just two years later, Hu Jinjun was unexpectedly removed in February of this year and reassigned as the Director of the Guangdong Provincial Propaganda Department. Given that China National Radio is a ministerial-level entity, the Deputy Director holds a vice-ministerial rank, while the Provincial Standing Committee member and Propaganda Department Director typically holds a vice-provincial rank. Thus, while this appears to be a lateral move in terms of rank, the higher status and prestige of Beijing officials compared to local officials effectively results in a demotion of half a level.
The removal of Zhu Yonglei and the demotion of Hu Jinjun are not uncommon, signaling that Xu Lin can no longer protect them from challenges, and Xu Lin's own situation suggests that Xi Jinping, who promoted him, is also facing difficulties. Additionally, Liu Jianguo, who has taken over from Zhu Yonglei, lacks any connections to Xi's faction, further underscoring the situation.
An analysis of the other newly appointed central government officials reveals that many lack ties to Xi Jinping's faction. This includes Wu Yanjun, who has recently been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Justice, Zhang Yong, the Deputy Director of the National Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, and You Jun, the newly appointed Deputy Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee. Who is orchestrating this personnel reshuffle? Does this suggest that Xi and his faction are on the path to decline?
(Originally published by People News)
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