Commander of the Armed Police Wang Chunning Absent from Public Security Meeting—Is He in Trouble?

On October 29, 2024, the CCP’s training program for provincial and ministerial-level cadres began at the Central Party School, where Miao Hua appeared on CCTV with a seemingly furrowed brow. (Video screenshot)

[People News] Since the CCP's 20th Central Committee's Third Plenary Session in mid-July, China's political landscape has been increasingly unusual, with various anomalies occurring. Particularly notable is the declining presence of standard rhetoric in official statements, such as references to "Xi Jinping Thought," and phrases like "establish" and "safeguard," which have become less common in high-level news reports. As a result, the few high-ranking officials who continue to make loyalty declarations have become conspicuously visible.

Curiously, on November 20, news of Li Xi, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, attending a village inspection promotion meeting, was absent from major state media outlets like Xinhua News and People's Daily Online. Similarly, a report on Ying Yong, China's Chief Prosecutor, attending a national criminal prosecution meeting in Fuzhou was published on Xinhua News on November 21. However, references to Xi Jinping, as well as terms like "establish" and "safeguard," were conspicuously removed from Ying’s speech in the article.

If Xi still wielded absolute power, such omissions would likely not occur. These developments increasingly corroborate rumors circulating among the public about the weakening of Xi’s authority. The CCP appears to be sending signals, including through personnel changes, that hint at this shift in power dynamics.

On November 21, the CCP held a nationwide video conference for public security organs. At the meeting, Wang Xiaohong, a member of the CCP Secretariat and Minister of Public Security, delivered remarks on the "Winter Operations" campaign. However, the televised broadcast revealed an unusual detail: seated to Wang's left was Zhang Hongbing, Political Commissar of the Armed Police, instead of General Wang Chunning, the Commander of the Armed Police, who typically attends such meetings.

This departure from the norm is noteworthy. In previous nationwide public security video conferences on April 23, June 25, and September 20, Wang Chunning was consistently seated to Wang Xiaohong's left. Why, then, was Wang absent from the November 21 meeting? Was it due to illness or some other reason? In the CCP’s increasingly peculiar political climate, Wang’s absence raises questions.

At 61, Wang Chunning is the son of Wang Yongming, former Deputy Political Commissar of the Nanjing Military Region. He graduated from the Russian General Staff Academy and China’s National Defense University. Over his career, Wang held positions such as Commander of the 1st Division of the 1st Group Army, Chief of Staff, Deputy Army Commander, and Commander of the 12th Group Army. In August 2016, he became Commander of the Beijing Garrison, rising to Lieutenant General in July 2017. By December 2020, he was promoted to General and appointed Commander of the Armed Police.

Wang is also a member of the CCP’s 20th Central Committee and the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. His career trajectory is closely tied to Xi Jinping. During Xi's tenure as Party Secretary in Zhejiang, Wang served in the 1st Group Army based in Huzhou, Zhejiang, where the two likely became acquainted. It is widely believed that Xi’s trust in Wang—possibly bolstered by recommendations from Miao Hua, former Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission—secured his appointments as Commander of the Beijing Garrison and later the Armed Police.

According to recent overseas reports citing reliable sources, Miao Hua, former Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), was taken into custody by the CMC Discipline Inspection Commission on November 9. As early as February this year, freelance journalist Du Zheng had written in The Up Media that Dong Jun, the new Minister of National Defense with a naval background, owed his rise to Miao Hua’s influence. Miao, originally from Rugao, Jiangsu, was born in Fuzhou and is known for his close ties to Xi Jinping, who worked in Fujian for many years.

Du Zheng noted that Miao Hua, who oversaw the CCP military’s political work system for over six years, operated in an area historically plagued by corruption. Miao’s predecessors, Xu Caihou and Zhang Yang, were both deeply involved in corruption scandals—Xu died of illness during his investigation, while Zhang committed suicide. Over the past decades, officials seeking promotion within the system often had to engage in significant corruption to accumulate enough illicit funds to bribe their superiors. As the head of the CMC’s Political Work Department, Miao Hua reportedly controlled all political commissars in the military, using them as his operatives and informants. Military promotions required his approval before being presented to Xi Jinping, making Miao a central figure in the military's patronage system. Du described Miao as possibly the "most corrupt individual in the current military."

Wang Chunning’s absence from the recent public security meeting could be related to Miao Hua’s detention, potentially involving an investigation into whether Wang engaged in bribery. Another possibility is that Wang’s absence is tied to Xi Jinping’s rumored loss of control over military authority.

After the unusual developments in the CCP’s top leadership following the Third Plenum, Wang Chunning, Commander of the Armed Police, published an article on September 25 in Study Times, a publication aligned with Xi Jinping’s ideology. The article was dedicated to promoting Xi’s speech at the June Yan’an Political Work Conference of the Central Military Commission. In it, Wang praised Xi’s vision for building a "strong and modernized armed police force" and expressed unwavering loyalty.

The article was filled with declarations of allegiance, emphasizing that studying and implementing Xi's speech was "both the foremost political task and a long-term strategic mission." Wang lauded Xi’s leadership as the guarantee of military prosperity and pledged to "strengthen the 'Four Consciousnesses,' bolster the 'Four Confidences,' and uphold the 'Two Safeguards.'" He also vowed to "follow Xi’s command, be accountable to Xi, and reassure Xi."

In the past three months, public expressions of loyalty to Xi from military leaders have been rare. Besides Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission He Weidong, Wang Chunning has been one of the few to make such overt declarations. If Xi’s control over the military has indeed weakened, Wang’s public loyalty may carry implications for both his standing and the dynamics with Zhang Youxia, the other Vice Chairman who is rumored to wield greater authority within the military. Given Wang’s connections to Miao Hua, the former Director of the Political Work Department who is reportedly under investigation, speculation about Wang being under scrutiny is not baseless.

Replacing Wang Chunning at the November 21 public security meeting was Zhang Hongbing, Political Commissar of the Armed Police. Zhang has held significant political positions, including as Deputy Director of the Political Department for the 20th Group Army, Commissar of the 127th Division under the 54th Group Army, Political Department Director, and Commissar of the 76th Group Army. In late 2019, Zhang became Political Commissar of the Eastern Theater Army, earning a promotion to Lieutenant General, and in January 2022, he became Political Commissar of the Armed Police and was promoted to General.

Zhang Hongbing’s career trajectory suggests close ties to Xi loyalists, particularly He Weidong. When He served as Commander of the Western Theater Army, Zhang was Political Commissar of the 76th Group Army. After He was reassigned to the Eastern Theater Command in 2019, Zhang followed, becoming Political Commissar of the Eastern Theater Army and later advancing under He’s apparent recommendation.

However, recent events suggest Zhang may have shifted his allegiance. Reports on the Armed Police’s recent study sessions of the Central Military Commission and Third Plenum spirit show a notable absence or downplaying of language pledging loyalty to Xi. This shift could indicate Zhang’s alignment with Zhang Youxia, who is believed to have gained control over the military.

The true reason behind Wang Chunning's "disappearance" is, of course, speculative. However, his absence, along with Miao Hua's investigation, may serve as further evidence that Xi Jinping is no longer able to protect his loyalists within the military.

(This article is adapted from Dajiyuan)