[People News] On October 21, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced that Zhang Xiaolian, former deputy director of the 13th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference Economic Committee and former propaganda chief of Heilongjiang, is under investigation. Zhang's career history reveals numerous intersections with former Chairman of the National People's Congress, Li Zhanshu. Zhang served as Heilongjiang Provincial Governor Assistant while Li Zhanshu was Deputy Party Secretary and later Governor of Heilongjiang from 2004 to 2007, suggesting that Zhang may have been part of Li's faction.

The investigation into Zhang Xiaolian has been interpreted as an attempt to "clip Li Zhanshu’s wings." Political analysts note that Xi Jinping is wary of senior leaders cultivating their own loyalists, aiming to sever their ties with high-level officials. As a result, he has repeatedly weakened these factions in recent years, affecting figures such as Li Yuanchao, Wang Qishan, and Zhao Leji. Recently, even Xi’s university roommate, Chen Xi, faced a similar fate. Although Xi may not pursue them directly, these political elders are closely monitored to prevent any future threats.

One notable example of "clipping" involves Zhao Leji, particularly since Li Xi became head of the CCDI. Li has been "cleansing" officials promoted by Zhao, including former Mayor of Xining Kong Lingdong, former Vice Minister at the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission Luo Yulin, and other key figures with close ties to Zhao. This has included an intensive crackdown in Qinghai, where Zhao had previously held office, with dozens of high-ranking individuals investigated and over a hundred interrogated.

Several of Zhao Leji’s former subordinates have also been investigated as internal informants. These include Cui Yunan, a senior investigator in the CCDI’s 13th Review and Investigation Office, Yao Xike, former second-level inspector in the CCDI's supervision group at the Ministry of Transportation, and others.

Li Xi stated that the national disciplinary system must "actively address internal issues, eliminate ‘two-faced individuals,’ and rigorously clean house." His remarks appeared to target Zhao’s faction, emphasizing a thorough crackdown.

Meanwhile, the targeting of Wang Qishan’s allies has drawn significant public attention. Over the years, several of Wang’s former associates have fallen from grace and received harsh sentences. Fan Yifei, his former financial manager at the China Construction Bank, was sentenced to life in October 2023, while Tian Huiyu, Wang’s former secretary and former president of China Merchants Bank, received a suspended death sentence for corruption involving 5 billion yuan. Additionally, Ren Zhiqiang, Wang’s close friend and a prominent "second-generation red" figure, was sentenced to 18 years in prison with a fine of 4.2 million yuan.

As Xi Jinping’s administration continues to clip the wings of senior officials, it often dredges up past allegations against their former superiors, effectively holding these leaders’ past misconduct over them to ensure compliance. Since the 20th Party Congress, this trend has intensified, with recent "re-examinations" reaching Xi’s old friend and classmate Chen Xi, as well as Li Zhanshu.

On September 28, Deputy General Manager of China Unicom Cao Xingxin was investigated. Last year, Cao was assigned from the Organization Department, formerly led by Chen Xi, to China Unicom. Analysts speculate that Cao may have been a trusted confidant of Chen, who was Xi’s university roommate and former Minister of the Organization Department, before assuming leadership of the Central Party School in 2023.

Retrospective investigations of retired officials are not uncommon in the CCP’s recent anti-corruption efforts.

These "old account" investigations may reflect a desire to shift responsibility or sever associations with disgraced predecessors, while top officials are rarely directly implicated. This so-called accountability merely sacrifices scapegoats. Those tasked with investigating past cases might be motivated by personal gain or jealousy, enjoying the process without considering whether they may one day be similarly investigated. The CCP perpetually shifts blame, maintaining the stance that any misdeeds were solely the fault of lower-level party members.