Last year, Cao Xingxin, the former deputy general manager of China United Network Communications Group (China Unicom) who fell from grace, was officially expelled from the Chinese Communist Party and dismissed from public office. He was also transferred to judicial authorities for further investigation. Cao Xingxin was an old associate of Chen Xi, the current president of the Central Party School, during Chen’s tenure as head of the Organization Department. The official report mentioned Cao Xingxin’s involvement in “selling official positions,” shedding light on the power struggle within Xi Jinping’s inner circle.
On February 24, the official website of the Chinese Communist Party Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission reported that authorities had initiated a formal investigation into the “serious violations of discipline and law” by Cao Xingxin, the former deputy general manager of China Unicom.
The official report stated that Cao Xingxin was “disloyal and dishonest to the Party,” engaged in “seeking benefits for others in the selection and appointment of cadres,” participated in “power-for-money, sex-for-money transactions,” “illegally interfered in law enforcement activities,” used his position to profit others in project contracting, work arrangements, and promotion, and illegally accepted substantial amounts of money, among other charges.
Cao Xingxin was expelled from the Party and public office and is now facing prosecution.
Before this, Cao Xingxin had been under investigation since September 28, 2024.
Public records show that Cao Xingxin, born in October 1966, had a long career in the Communist Party Organization Department. He served as the deputy director of the Fourth Bureau of the Organization Department, an inspector and deputy director of the Office for Civil Servant Administration, the deputy director of the Third Bureau of Civil Servants, the Party Committee Secretary and Deputy Dean (ranked at the bureau level) of the National Organization Cadre College, among other positions.
In January 2023, Cao Xingxin was appointed as the deputy general manager of China Unicom, and in March of the same year, he became the senior vice president of China Unicom, also serving as the chief legal advisor.
Cao Xingxin was transferred from the National Organization Cadre College to China Unicom as a deputy. The National Organization Cadre College, where he previously worked, is directly subordinate to the Organization Department and responsible for training officials in the organizational personnel system. As the Party Committee Secretary, he was the head of the unit.
Since Xi Jinping came to power, his close associate Chen Xi had long held real power in the Organization Department, nurturing a significant number of his own followers.
From 2013 to 2017, Chen Xi served as the Deputy Minister presiding over the routine work of the Organization Department. Starting in 2017, he became a member of the Central Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, Minister of the Organization Department, and President of the Central Party School. Following the First Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee in October 2022, the 69-year-old Chen Xi stepped down from his positions as a member of the Central Political Bureau, Secretary of the Central Secretariat, and was active as the Minister of the Organization Department until April 2023. He currently remains as the President (Dean) of the Central Party School (National School of Administration).
Renowned political commentator Chen Pokong had previously indicated that several figures who had fallen from grace recently were associated with the Xi Jinping faction, particularly close confidants. For example, Cao Xingxin was a close aide of Chen Xi, the former head of the Organization Department.
Chen Pokong suggested that this could be seen as Li Xi challenging Chen Xi, revealing internal conflicts within Xi’s circle. Apart from Li Xi’s challenge against Chen Xi, there might also be other individuals targeting Chen Xi and Li Xi. It’s possible that political elders and other factions are taking action, questioning why the Xi faction is not investigating its own corruption and other issues.