Is Xi Jinping’s New Task Force the Modern-Day Western Depot (Xi Chang)?

Illustration: On March 12, 2023, CCP Politburo Standing Committee members Cai Qi and Li Xi attend a session of the National People’s Congress. (Noel Celis/AFP)

[People  News] On June 30, Xi Jinping established a new group — the "Decision-Making and Coordination Task Force." The move stirred waves of speculation: is this a sign of further consolidation of power by Xi, or does it signal a loss of control? The move has sparked discussion across overseas media.

1. Understanding the CCP’s Power Structure

To understand what the so-called "Decision-Making and Coordination Task Force" is, we must first review the structure of power within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

The CCP holds its National Congress every five years, which is nominally the highest organ of power. In reality, it is largely ceremonial. The phrase “small meetings decide big matters” captures how real power is concentrated in smaller groups within the party. Because of this massive bureaucratic structure, a small circle is needed for effective centralized governance.

From this system, a Central Committee of about 370 members is formed — both full and alternate members — which is similar in concept to the U.S. Congress but rarely meets.

To further centralize power, 24 members are selected from the Central Committee to form the Politburo. This Politburo is the main decision-making body of the CCP. But even this is further distilled: from these 24 members, 7 are selected to form the Politburo Standing Committee. These 7 people are the true core of party power, overseeing all state, party, and military affairs.

Who then implements the decisions made by the Standing Committee? That falls to the Central Secretariat. The current First Secretary of the Secretariat is Cai Qi, who manages the General Office. The remaining six are: Shi Taifeng (in charge of the Organization Department), Li Ganjie (United Front Work Department), Li Shulei (Propaganda Department), Chen Wenqing (Politics and Law Commission), Liu Jinguo (National Supervisory Commission), and Wang Xiaohong (State Councilor and Minister of Public Security).

Through the Secretariat, the 7-member Standing Committee effectively controls all major state power. Additionally, there’s the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), led by Standing Committee member Li Xi. The Central Military Commission (CMC) is chaired by Xi Jinping, though actual operations fall to Zhang Youxia.

Li Xi is a close protégé of Xi Jinping. He was born in Liangdang County, Tianshui, Gansu — the same location where Xi’s father, Xi Zhongxun, launched the “Liangdang Uprising.” Li Xi built a memorial for this event, attracting the attention of Xi Yuanping (Xi Jinping's brother). In 2007, Li became mayor of Yan’an and orchestrated a letter-writing campaign from villagers in Liangjiahe to Xi Jinping, crafting the image of Xi as a "man of the people" despite his lack of grassroots political experience. Li Xi is often called the "best political makeup artist."

Among the party, state, and military power centres, only the military power is not entirely under Xi’s control. Thus, Zhang Youxia may become a key figure in challenging Xi’s dominance.

2. Is the Task Force a Sign of Xi Losing Power?

Currently, online interpretations of the "Decision-Making and Coordination Task Force" fall into two camps. One believes that Xi Jinping has lost real power, and that the task force is a political tool created by the "elder cadre" faction to intervene and sideline Xi's authority. The other believes that Xi is further consolidating power, and that the task force is a "supreme command centre" established to efficiently coordinate the party, government, military, and police.

According to a report by media figure Cai Shenkun, the task force consists of only four members, each representing one of the four systems: the party, government, military, and police. If Xi Jinping himself represents the "party," then who are the other three members?

3. Ma Xingrui Appears at Politburo Meeting

During the June 30th CCTV news broadcast, former Xinjiang Party Secretary and vice national-level official Ma Xingrui — previously rumored to be under investigation — was seen sitting near Xi Jinping’s left side, a spot considered one of high honor.

Media bloggers have speculated that Ma’s transfer to Beijing is to take charge of the new task force and act as a counterweight to Cai Qi — the so-called “Eastern Depot eunuch.” That would make Ma the “Western Depot eunuch.” But is this really the case? More observation is needed.

Still, given that Xi as “core leader” already holds consolidated control over the party, state, and military, why create another layer of power?

Recently, there have been many reports suggesting that Zhao Leji (Chairman of the National People’s Congress) is being sidelined. Liu Kuanren, Vice Chairman of the Shaanxi CPPCC, was placed under investigation. Many believe this is Xi setting up Zhao to take the fall. During the recent Third Plenary Session of the CCP, Zhao claimed to be absent due to a respiratory infection — yet appeared energetic on camera the next day. His actions were seen as defiance against Xi, and many interpret this as evidence of a severely deteriorated relationship between the two.

Back in 2008, Zhao demolished villas near Qinling to build Xi Zhongxun’s mausoleum. Now that locals are protesting and petitioning, Xi may be using Zhao as a scapegoat to calm public anger.

On May 19, 2025, under the command of Cai Qi’s Central Office, the party issued the "Regulations on Strict Economy and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs," which included detailed restrictions — dubbed the “alcohol ban” by the public. In response, Li Xi’s Discipline Inspection Commission began local investigations, creating fear and unrest among officials. Soon after, People’s Daily (under Propaganda Department head Li Shulei) issued a rebuttal: “The alcohol ban is not a meal ban,” a contradiction that raised eyebrows.

In ancient times, emperors feared ministers becoming too powerful. They often used sycophantic courtiers to destroy loyal ministers, then purged those same sycophants to pacify public anger and appear wise. Is Xi using this same old imperial trick? Zhao Leji, Cai Qi, and Li Xi are considered the top three sycophants within the Politburo. Is Xi planning to eliminate them in order to elevate new loyalists and reduce their political influence?

If this newly formed task force is the modern-day “Western Depot,” is it targeting Cai Qi’s “Eastern Depot” faction?

(Originally published by People News)