Li Xi Purges the Allies of Major Figures: Shocking Revelation About Li Zhanshu

BEIJING, CHINA - MARCH 7: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks during a press conference for domestic and foreign journalists as part of the National People&9;s Congress and Two Sessions on March 7, 2024 in Beijing, China. China&9;s annual political gathering known as the Two Sessions convenes leaders and lawmakers to set the government&9;s agenda for domestic economic and social development for the year.(Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

October 24, 2024 – The internal power struggles among the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leadership continue to unfold. Although retired, former CCP Politburo Standing Committee member Li Zhanshu, who played a key role for Xi Jinping, remains under scrutiny. After his retirement, many issues surrounding him have surfaced, even reaching Xi's desk. Reports suggest that while Xi may not move directly against top-level leaders like Li, he has been "purging" those close to them to eliminate any threats. The recent downfall of Zhang Xiaolian, former Propaganda Chief of Heilongjiang Province, is an example, as Zhang was reportedly a close associate of Li Zhanshu.

Cai Shenkun: Li Zhanshu’s Former Aide Removed, Li’s Problems Once Reached Xi’s Desk

On October 21, Zhang Xiaolian, former Propaganda Chief of Heilongjiang Province and Deputy Director of the Economic Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, was placed under investigation.

Public records show that Zhang spent 12 years working in the Communist Youth League in Beijing, where he held positions such as Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the Beijing Youth League Committee. He then served as Deputy Secretary and District Governor of Fangshan District in Beijing. In 2005, Zhang moved to Heilongjiang Province, where he held various positions, including Assistant to the Governor, Party Secretary of Mudanjiang, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor of Harbin, and Propaganda Chief of the Heilongjiang Provincial Party Committee. In 2018, he became Deputy Director of the Agricultural and Rural Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a position he held until January 2023, when he stepped down just before turning 59.

On October 23, independent commentator Cai Shenkun revealed on his media channel that Zhang Xiaolian was an important subordinate of Li Zhanshu in Heilongjiang. Signs indicate that Li Xi, Secretary of the CCP’s Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), is "purging" Li Zhanshu’s former associates one by one.

Li Zhanshu, born on August 30, 1950, in Pingshan, Hebei Province, began his political career in his home province and is said to have formed a close relationship with Xi Jinping during their early careers in Hebei. In the 1980s, both men worked in the Shijiazhuang region—Li as Party Secretary of Wuji County and Xi as Party Secretary of Zhengding County.

Li Zhanshu later rose to become a member of the Hebei Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee. In 1998, he was transferred to Shaanxi, where he served as a member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee, Head of the Organization Department, and later Deputy Party Secretary and Party Secretary of Xi'an. In 2004, he became Deputy Party Secretary of Heilongjiang Province and, in 2007, also served as Governor. In 2010, he was appointed Party Secretary of Guizhou Province. Before the 18th National Congress in 2012, Li was called to Beijing to serve as Deputy Director and later Director of the CCP Central Committee General Office. He was elevated to the Politburo in 2012 and became a Standing Committee member in 2017. In 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the National People's Congress, a position he held until his retirement in March 2023.

Li Zhanshu is regarded as one of Xi Jinping’s most trusted confidants. During his time as Director of the General Office, he frequently accompanied Xi on overseas visits and helped Xi amend the constitution to remove the two-term limit on the presidency.

During the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the CCP on October 22, 2022, former CCP leader Hu Jintao attempted to look at a red document, which reportedly contained high-level personnel information, but was blocked by Li Zhanshu. When Hu turned to Xi’s document, Xi himself pressed down on it. Xi then ordered Hu to be escorted out, despite Hu appearing reluctant to leave.

Japanese media revealed that Hu Jintao’s actions stemmed from his dissatisfaction with the removal of his protégé Hu Chunhua from the leadership list. When Hu tried to view the list, Li Zhanshu stopped him, reportedly saying, "Don't look, it’s already decided."

Cai Shenkun noted that although Li Zhanshu played a critical role in helping Xi Jinping consolidate power, he, like others, faces the risk of falling out of favor, as Xi could abandon him as he did with Wang Qishan, another close ally. In 2017, Li reportedly offered to step down, citing his age (68 at the time), and proposed taking a lower position in the National People’s Congress or the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference to preemptively ease Xi’s concerns. However, Xi retained him until he was 73.

Cai added that while it’s unlikely that Xi would move directly against Li Zhanshu, many of Li’s problems have surfaced since his retirement and have even reached Xi’s desk.

As a member of the CCP elite, Li Zhanshu has been implicated in corruption. Just before the 19th National Congress, foreign media reported allegations of financial misconduct involving Li’s daughter and son-in-law, suggesting that they had amassed wealth improperly.

Cai also pointed out that Xi Jinping is most wary of top-level leaders grooming their own loyalists. Xi has used a "feather-cutting" approach to neutralize the power bases of figures like Li Yuanchao, Wang Qishan, and Zhao Leji by removing their closest associates. He is doing the same with Li Zhanshu, aiming to leave these political elders isolated and unable to pose any future threat. While Xi may not directly target top leaders themselves, he closely monitors them and cuts off their connections with high-ranking officials.

Li Xi’s "Feather-Cutting" Targets Multiple CCP Elders

In recent years, several high-ranking CCP figures, including both current and retired officials, have seen their associates purged by Li Xi.

After Xi’s close ally Li Xi became a Politburo Standing Committee member and CCDI head in 2022, he has focused on purging individuals promoted by Zhao Leji. These include Hao Zongqiang, Deputy Head of the CCDI and National Supervisory Commission’s Propaganda Department, and Liu Ran, Deputy Director of the Second Supervision and Inspection Office. Another key figure is Luo Yulin, a close aide of Zhao during his time as Party Secretary of Qinghai Province.

In March 2023, Li Zaiyong, former Vice Chairman of the Guizhou Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, was removed. Li had been a close associate of current Politburo member and Tianjin Party Secretary Chen Miner, who once served as Party Secretary of Guizhou.

Wang Qishan, who served as CCDI Secretary during Xi Jinping’s first term and retired as Vice President in 2023, has seen many of his former associates fall in recent years. These include Fan Yifei, former Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China, who was sentenced to death with a reprieve on October 10; Tian Huiyu, former head of China Merchants Bank, sentenced to death with a reprieve for corruption involving 5 billion yuan; and Dong Hong, former Deputy Head of the CCDI’s inspection team, also sentenced to death with a reprieve.

On September 28, 2023, Cao Xingxin, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom, was placed under investigation. Cao had been transferred to China Unicom from the Central Organization Department, previously led by Chen Xi, a close associate of Xi Jinping. Chen is Xi’s university classmate and currently serves as the President of the Central Party School.

Edited by: Lin Congwen