Recently, Xi Jinping’s faction official, former Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary Yi Lianhong, was suddenly transferred to the National People’s Congress Finance and Economic Committee, indicating that he has stepped back from the forefront. Political analysts pointed out that this personnel change indicates that the current situation is not favorable for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, showing that he is finding it difficult to continue protecting his confidants, a sign of his political setback.
At the same time, the CCP announced the winners of the “34th China News Award,” with almost all major awards going to works related to Xi Jinping. Analysts believe that this arrangement may not necessarily bring any credit to Xi Jinping, but rather appears clumsy and is seen as the most audacious “black operation” in recent years.
On November 8, the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress of the CCP concluded in Beijing, appointing Yi Lianhong as the Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Finance and Economic Committee, marking his formal retreat to the second line.
Yi Lianhong is a candidate member of the 19th CCP Central Committee and a member of the 20th Central Committee. Previously, he served as the CCP Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary. On October 28, the CCP suddenly announced that Yi Lianhong would no longer serve as the Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary, with Governor Wang Hao taking over.
Public records show that Yi Lianhong, 65 years old, is from Loudi, Hunan. Starting in November 2011, Yi successively held positions such as standing committee member of the Hunan Provincial Committee, Secretary of the Yueyang Municipal Committee, Secretary of the Changsha Municipal Committee, deputy secretary of the Liaoning Provincial Committee, and Secretary of the Shenyang Municipal Committee. In July 2018, he was appointed deputy secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee, acting Governor of Jiangxi in August, and Governor of Jiangxi in October. In October 2021, he was appointed Secretary of the Jiangxi Provincial Committee. In December 2022, Yi was transferred to the position of Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary until his departure in October this year.
Yi Lianhong often praised Xi Jinping in public. During the Zhejiang Provincial leadership conference announcing his appointment, Yi emphasized that Zhejiang is where Xi Jinping had worked for many years and is an important birthplace of the so-called “Xi Jinping Thought.” He publicly stated his firm support for slogans like “Two Maintenances” which uphold Xi Jinping’s core position within the party.
During his tenure in Jiangxi Province, Yi Lianhong published articles in the CCP’s official media, People’s Daily, proclaiming the need to “integrate ‘Two Maintenances’ into our bloodstream and soul.”
After the 18th National Congress of the CCP, Xia Baolong, Che Jun, Yuan Jiajun, Yi Lianhong, and Wang Hao successively served as the Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary. Yuan Jiajun is currently a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and the Secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee. Xia Baolong currently serves as the Director of the CCP Central Committee’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office and the State Council’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office. Che Jun currently serves as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Director of the Population, Resources, and Environment Committee.
Political analyst Chen Pokong in exile in the United States believes that Yi Lianhong’s sudden transfer to the position of Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Finance and Economic Committee is not a normal job transfer or retirement arrangement. Chen Pokong said in an interview with the Epoch Times that Zhejiang is a major economic province in China and also a political stronghold of the CCP. It is the birthplace of Xi Jinping’s power and the source of the “Zhejiang Army,” a faction loyal to Xi Jinping. Therefore, Xi Jinping pays special attention to the selection of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary.
Chen Pokong mentioned that Yi Lianhong was appointed as the Zhejiang Provincial Party Secretary in December 2022. Usually, the term for this position is one five-year term. However, he suddenly stepped down on October 28 this year, not even completing two years in office. Chen Pokong believes that this move was clearly not Xi Jinping’s original intent. According to Xi Jinping’s arrangements, Yi Lianhong should have been promoted to a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau and even possibly to a vice-ministerial or ministerial level. However, he is now suddenly transferred to the National People’s Congress, indicating that he has been purged.
Chen Pokong believes that this purge is not from Xi Jinping but from the anti-Xi faction, reflecting Xi Jinping’s political setback and showing that he is unable to continue protecting his close associates.
This year, two former CCP provincial party secretaries have been reassigned to serve in the National People’s Congress. Apart from Yi Lianhong, there is also former Jilin Provincial Party Secretary Jing Junhai.
On September 13 this year, Jing Junhai was appointed as the Deputy Director of the National People’s Congress Education, Science, Culture, and Health Committee, sparking widespread speculation.
Jing Junhai worked in Shaanxi for a long time, moving to Beijing in 2015 and subsequently holding positions such as Deputy Minister of the CCP Central Committee’s Propaganda Department, Deputy Secretary and Governor of the Beijing Municipal Party Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Jilin Provincial Party Committee, and Governor of Jilin Province in 2020. He has always been seen as a confidant of Xi Jinping. During his tenure in Shaanxi, he planned and promoted the expansion of the relatively small graveyard of Xi Jinping’s father, Xi Zhongxun, into a mausoleum.
In June this year, Jing Junhai stepped down as the Jilin Provincial Party Secretary. The CCP official announcement stated that Jing Junhai was no longer serving as the Jilin Provincial Party Secretary and that he had “another appointment.”
At that time, analysts believed that Jing Junhai still had a bright future ahead and could even potentially be promoted to a member of the Central Political Bureau or Secretary of the Central Secretariat. However, this officer, who seemed to have Xi Jinping’s trust, retired to the second line before reaching the regular retirement age of 65, surprising many.
At the time, Chen Pokong told the Epoch Times that this was also a move by the anti-Xi faction. During the 20th Third Plenary Session of the CCP in July this year, there were rumors that Xi Jinping had a stroke or a severe illness. Although Xi Jinping is still active, since the Third Plenum, the pressure from the anti-Xi faction on his confidants has significantly increased, weakening Xi Jinping’s power to a considerable extent.
Just the day before Yi Lianhong was announced to be transferred to the National People’s Congress, on November 7, the China National Association of Journalists released the results of the selection for the 34th China News Awards. The list of award-winning works showed that almost all major awards went to news related to Xi Jinping.
Of the special awards on the list, the top-ranking report was “Xi Jinping unanimously elected President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission,” followed closely by other reports related to Xi Jinping.
There were a total of 75 first-prize winners, with the top report titled “Xi Jinping holds a summit meeting with the President of the United States.” Other award-winning news included “People’s Choice – Written at the time of Comrade Xi Jinping’s unanimous election as President of China and Chairman of the Central Military Commission.” In the second prize category, a report on Xi Jinping’s approach to talent selection won an award.
Chen Pokong commented that although this list of winners garnered attention, its actual effects may not necessarily benefit Xi Jinping, but rather appear clumsy. People familiar with the CCP’s internal operations would consider this approach as a form of “high-level black operation.”
Chen Pokong stated that Xi Jinping holds the “pen,” while Cai Qi oversees the propaganda machinery as a member of the CCP Central Political Bureau. The selection of news awards is ideological, with the specific operation led by Cai Qi.
Chen Pokong believes that there are two possible scenarios. Firstly, it could be under Xi Jinping’s instructions. He stated that although Xi Jinping currently does not have direct military control, the “pen” remains in his hands, thus instructing Cai Qi’s actions.
Secondly, there is growing speculation regarding Cai Qi’s precarious future. Chen Pokong analyzed that Cai Qi’s current standing is not well-received, and to please Xi Jinping, he might be attempting to ensure his political security by praising Xi Jinping. However, on the other hand, Cai Qi may have other calculations and could be launching a counterattack using the “high-level black” method to further sow discontent and aversion towards Xi Jinping within the party.
Chen Pokong stated that Cai Qi has orchestrated one of the most audacious “high-level black” operations in recent years, unprecedented in its severity and sophistication.