[News Figures] Xi Jinping's 3rd Term Core Power Rising: 'Xi Zajun'

Who Are the Six Members of the Politburo Standing Committee in 'Xi Jinping's People'?
Establishing a 'One-Man Dominance System' Without Factional Balance

Chinese President Xi Jinping is delivering a work report at the opening ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China held on the morning of the 16th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] A defining feature of Xi Jinping's third term leadership is the rise of the 'Xijun,' a group of figures loyal to Xi Jinping, the President of China. Xi has filled all six members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, the pinnacle of Communist Party power, with his close-knit group, the Xijun. As rival factions such as the Communist Youth League (CYL) and the Shanghai clique (political and business networks from Shanghai) were ousted, Xi's 'one-man rule system' has become even more solidified.

Until now, the Standing Committee was arranged around three factions: the Princelings (children of revolutionary elders) to which Xi belongs, the CYL faction associated with former President Hu Jintao, and the Shanghai clique linked to former President Jiang Zemin. However, Xi broke this convention and composed the third-term top leadership solely with his close aides, the Xijun. At a press conference held on the 23rd at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the six newly appointed Standing Committee members who followed Xi onto the stage were Li Qiang, Party Secretary of Shanghai; Zhao Leji, Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection; Wang Huning, Secretary of the Communist Party Central Secretariat; Cai Qi, Party Secretary of Beijing; Ding Xuexiang, Director of the General Office of the Central Committee; and Li Xi, Party Secretary of Guangdong Province.

During Xi's second term, Premier Li Keqiang and Wang Yang, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, both from the CYL faction, as well as Han Zheng, Executive Vice Premier from the Shanghai clique, and Li Zhanshu, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, were excluded from the third-term top leadership list. Hu Chunhua, Vice Premier and designated successor by former President Hu Jintao, was omitted not only from the Standing Committee but also from the list of 24 Politburo members. This effectively marks the end of power-sharing and factional politics within the Communist Party. Meanwhile, former President Hu Jintao was controversially seen being escorted out by aides during the closing ceremony of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party, sparking debate.

The Standing Committee members classified as Xijun all share the commonality of having close personal ties with Xi Jinping or having worked alongside him during his provincial assignments. Judging by the order in which the new Standing Committee members entered, Li Qiang, who followed Xi, is expected to become the next Premier and is ranked second in China's power hierarchy.

Li Qiang, originally from Zhejiang Province, formed a connection with Xi when Xi served as Party Secretary of Zhejiang. In 2005, Li was appointed Xi's chief of staff and served as his aide for two years. He later led key economic regions in China as Deputy Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Party Secretary of Jiangsu Province, and Party Secretary of Shanghai. Li was also responsible for the lockdown of Shanghai under the pretext of preventing the spread of COVID-19. Although there were speculations that he might be excluded from the Standing Committee due to strong public backlash, he appears to have overcome this with Xi's strong trust.

Zhao Leji, who ranked sixth in the Party hierarchy during Xi's second term, retained his position and rose to third place in the third term. Zhao, a close aide who served as Party Secretary of Shanxi Province, Xi's hometown, oversaw the Communist Party's anti-corruption campaign and the elimination of political rivals. Wang Huning, ranked fourth, is known as the strategist who designed Xi's signature policy, the 'Chinese Dream,' providing the ideological foundation for his governance. Like Zhao, Wang remained in the leadership and rose from fifth to fourth in rank.

Cai Qi, ranked fifth, is a core member of the 'Zhejiang New Army,' a group of Xi's subordinates from his time as Party Secretary of Zhejiang Province. Originally from Fujian Province, Cai formed ties with Xi during Xi's tenure as Deputy Party Secretary and Governor of Fujian and rapidly advanced his career. He served as Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central National Security Commission before being appointed Mayor of Beijing in 2017 and soon promoted to Party Secretary.

Ding Xuexiang, ranked sixth, served as Xi's chief of staff for over a decade and is often referred to as Xi's 'key power broker' or 'shadow.' Li Xi, ranked seventh, has no direct work history with Xi Jinping. However, he served as secretary to Li Ziqi, former Party Secretary of Gansu Province, who was a comrade of Xi's father, former Vice Premier Xi Zhongxun, during revolutionary activities, indicating a close connection to Xi's family.