Chen Min'er’s Former Subordinate Has Been Expelled, Intensifying the Turmoil in Beidaihe. Is the Anti-xi Faction Taking Action?

Photo: Tiananmen Square under heavy clouds. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] Jing Yaping, the former director of the Guizhou Provincial Big Data Development Administration, was recently expelled from the Party and dismissed from public office. On August 11, Sichuan Mobile News disclosed details of Jing Yaping's corruption. The Guizhou big data initiative, a 'performance project' initiated by Xi Jinping's confidant Chen Min'er since his appointment in Guizhou, has already resulted in the dismissal of several officials due to corruption. With the expulsion of Chen Min'er’s former subordinate, observers suggest that not only is Chen Min'er at risk, but Xi Jinping's poor personnel decisions may also face strong scrutiny at the upcoming Beidaihe meeting.

A report from the Guizhou Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and Supervision on August 6 stated that Jing Yaping was involved in power-for-money transactions, exploiting his position to benefit others in project approvals and contracts, and illegally accepting substantial amounts of property. Consequently, it was decided to expel Jing Yaping from the Party and dismiss him from public office, with the case being referred to judicial authorities for prosecution.

On August 11, state media Sichuan Mobile News revealed details regarding Jing Yaping's anti-corruption efforts. The report indicated that during his tenure, Jing Yaping misused his authority to convert government servers into a private Bitcoin mining operation, resulting in significant illegal profits. Investigations revealed that from 2020 to 2024, he mined a total of 327 Bitcoins, valued at approximately 150 million yuan at the time of the crime, which has now appreciated to nearly 1.167 billion yuan at current market prices, enough to purchase 2,000 new homes in Guizhou County.

Jing Yaping has been under investigation since February 24 of this year and had his qualifications as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference revoked on April 29.

Since last year, Guizhou has been embroiled in a significant corruption scandal, particularly within the big data sector that Xi Jinping once championed. The first two directors of the Guizhou Provincial Big Data Development Administration, several senior executives from state-owned enterprises in the big data field, as well as four consecutive mayors of Guiyang, the vice mayor responsible for big data, and the two 'top leaders' of Gui'an New Area, along with three 'deputy leaders,' have all been dismissed from their positions.

Chen Min'er, a close ally of Xi Jinping, held office in Guizhou from 2012 to 2017. He rose from deputy secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee to secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and his main 'achievement project' during his five years in power was the development of big data.

In 2014, Guizhou established a leading group for the development of the big data industry, with then-Governor Chen Min'er at the helm. Xi Jinping participated in the deliberations of the Guizhou delegation during the 2014 National Two Sessions, publicly supporting Guizhou's initiative to 'develop big data.' In June 2015, during his visit to Guiyang, Xi inspected the Guiyang Big Data Application Demonstration Centre, asserting that 'it makes sense for Guizhou to develop big data.'

After Chen Min'er left Guizhou, the big data industry continued to be overseen by his successors, Sun Zhigang and Chen Yiqin. Sun Zhigang took over as secretary of the Guizhou Provincial Party Committee in 2017, stepped back to a secondary role in November 2020, and was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve last October for accepting bribes exceeding 813 million yuan.

An earlier analysis by Li Lin from The Epoch Times suggested that Chen Min'er would not be immediately affected by the Guizhou corruption case, as authorities might have identified a scapegoat in Sun Zhigang. However, this situation could pose risks for Chen Min'er amid the internal power struggles within Xi's faction. Furthermore, this incident may further undermine Xi Jinping's authority and could serve as a leverage point for anti-Xi forces.

In July this year, independent commentator Du Zheng (杜政) published an article in Taiwan's "Shang Bao" highlighting extensive corruption in Guizhou's big data sector. This revelation suggests that Chen Min'er (陳敏爾)'s political achievements are essentially unfinished projects, indirectly challenging Xi Jinping (習近平).

Furthermore, Du Zheng disclosed that after losing his freedom, Evergrande's chairman Xu Jiayin (許家印) provided authorities with a lengthy list of high-ranking officials. Chen Min'er has maintained close ties with Xu Jiayin. On September 26, 2016, then Guizhou Provincial Party Secretary and Director of the Provincial People's Congress Chen Min'er met with Xu Jiayin, accompanied by then Governor Sun Zhigang (孫志剛).

Du Zheng described Xu Jiayin as a "firebomb" within the Chinese Communist Party's ranks, suggesting that if more surprising figures are removed or demoted in the future, it could be linked to Xu Jiayin.

The Chinese Communist Party entered its Beidaihe period on August 2. Rumours suggest that during the Beidaihe meeting, factions loyal to Xi and those opposing him are engaged in intense negotiations regarding Xi's future and the personnel arrangements for the Fourth Plenary Session.

On August 4, a large-scale protest erupted in Jiangyou, with demonstrators chanting slogans like "Down with the Communist Party" and "Down with Xi Jinping." Reports indicate that the Jiangyou incident sent shockwaves through Beidaihe, prompting the anti-Xi faction to question Xi Jinping's governance and personnel decisions.

On August 5, Jing Yaping (景亞萍), a former subordinate of Chen Min'er, was announced to be expelled from the Party.

On August 9, reports emerged that Liu Jianchao (劉建超), the Minister of the International Liaison Department, had been arrested. The following day, The Wall Street Journal confirmed that Liu Jianchao was being questioned, and Reuters cited sources indicating that he was taken away in early August, with authorities conducting a search of his residence at that time. Liu Jianchao is also viewed as a key figure heavily relied upon by Xi Jinping.

On August 11, details regarding anti-corruption efforts during Jing Yaping's tenure were revealed.

On August 12, it was reported that former Central Bank Party Secretary and Chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission Guo Shuqing (郭樹清) was under investigation.

Furthermore, the ongoing mystery surrounding the background of the Chinese woman Yang Lanlan, which is rumoured to be connected to the Xi family, continues to attract attention.

Analysts suggest that these developments indicate that the Beidaihe meeting, which appears calm on the surface, is actually rife with undercurrents and turmoil. Individuals promoted by Xi Jinping often find themselves in trouble, leading to questions about his personnel decisions. This situation is seen as a strategy employed by the anti-Xi faction to undermine his authority. △