By The Straits Times | Created at 2025-04-02 11:52:23 | Updated at 2025-04-03 10:49:41
23 hours ago
BEIJING – China’s ruling Communist Party has abruptly switched the roles of two Politburo members, according to the South China Morning Post, an unprecedented move that comes as Mr Xi Jinping breaks personnel norms in his third term.
Mr Li Ganjie, who heads the body in charge of senior job appointments, has swopped position with Mr Shi Taifeng, who leads party’s United Front Work Department, the newspaper reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the situation.
There is no previous case of Politburo members swopping posts, the SCMP reported.
China’s most-powerful leader since Mao Zedong has broken the retirement rules and roiled the upper echelons of power in recent years, ousting three sitting ministers since unveiling his latest Cabinet in 2023, and several senior military cadres.
A flurry of appointments are expected at provincial and ministerial level in 2025, which will pave the way for the next Politburo line-up in 2027 when the twice-a-decade party congress is expected.
There is no suggestion that Mr Li or Mr Shi have done anything wrong.
Mixing up jobs could be a way for China’s top leader to prevent senior cadres from becoming overly influential and building cliques.
Mr Li, 60, worked as environmental minister and Shandong party chief before being elevated to the 24-member Politburo in 2022.
He succeeded Mr Chen Xi, who was once a college roommate of Mr Xi, as head of the Organization Department in March 2023.
Mr Chen has remained influential in swaying appointments.
Mr Shi, 68, worked as deputy to Mr Xi in the 2000s, who was then leading the Central Party School as China’s vice-president.
The two agencies and Central Propaganda Department are the three key functional arms of the party.
The United Front Work Department is in charge of building influence among elites outside of the party, ranging from non-CCP members at home to overseas Chinese figures including in Hong Kong, Taiwan and other places.
The department also oversees ethnic issues. The activities have come under closer scrutiny in recent years as its operation spanning. BLOOMBERG
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