The Strong King is Not Strong, and the Blue Sky is Absent. The Internal Conflicts Among the Senior Officials of the Communist Party of China (Cpc) Have Intensified Ahead of the Fourth Plenary Session

Dark clouds hang over Tiananmen Square in Beijing. (Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

[People News] According to a report from the People's Daily, the article titled "The strong king, who is 'one step away from being the national leader,' is reported to be under investigation along with his relatives," mentioned that "Lan Tianli, the chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region government, has been arrested." This information was confirmed by official CPC sources today. At 5 PM, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) announced that Lan Tianli is suspected of "serious violations of discipline and law" and is currently undergoing review and investigation.

Lan Tianli is the latest provincial-level government head to be investigated, following the downfall of Shanxi Province Governor Jin Xiangjun on April 12 of this year, marking a one-month interval. He is the 21st central management cadre to be dismissed this year and the fourth ministerial-level official to face investigation.

Jin Xiangjun previously held various positions in Guangxi Autonomous Region, including deputy director of the Guangxi Department of Labor and Social Security, mayor of Yulin City, secretary of the municipal party committee, and director of the standing committee of the municipal people's congress, as well as secretary of the Fangchenggang Municipal Party Committee. Anti-communist internet personality Yin Ke (online name: Jiang Wangzheng) revealed on May 12 in his self-media program that Lan Tianli is being investigated in connection with the Jin Xiangjun case, suggesting that he was implicated by Jin Xiangjun.

The charges against Lan Tianli are similar to those against Jin Xiangjun, both suspected of "serious violations of discipline and law," but the CPC has not clarified which specific rules or laws were violated or the severity of these violations. Given that Lan Tianli was still conducting local research on the 11th, the abrupt nature of the case indicates that the CPC's investigation is being carried out very discreetly, suggesting that the case is complex. Following the CPC's internal conflict practices, it is possible that he will face severe penalties and may be treated as part of a broader conspiracy. His swift downfall has sent shockwaves both domestically and internationally.

Ironically, high-ranking officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) often present themselves as disciplined, loyal, and aligned with the central government just before their arrests. On January 8, 2025, Lan Tianli emphasised during a collective study and discussion at a democratic life meeting that strict adherence to rules and discipline is essential, and that one must refuse corruption and maintain integrity and honesty at all times. At the third integrity work meeting of the 14th government of the autonomous region, Lan reiterated the need to integrate the promotion of integrity, enforcement of discipline, and anti-corruption efforts, stating that we must resolutely engage in the tough battle against corruption, a protracted struggle, and an overall campaign.

At 62 years old, Lan Tianli has dedicated over thirty years to the political landscape of Guangxi. He has held positions such as the director of the Science and Technology Department and a local leader, and he is a candidate member of the 18th and 19th Central Committees of the CPC, as well as a member of the 20th Central Committee. Many media analyses suggest that his downfall is likely to implicate numerous officials. On May 12, the CPC announced that Li Wenbo, deputy secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, was dismissed from his position. Li had previously worked in Hechi City, where Lan Tianli served. On the 14th, it was reported that Pan Liaoting, deputy general manager of Guangxi Beibu Gulf International Port Group Co., Ltd., was under investigation. Currently, there are no clear sources confirming whether their dismissals are connected to Lan.

In recent years, among the central management officials in Guangxi who have been dismissed, Zhang Xiulong, the former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region People's Congress, was investigated in October 2023 and had worked alongside Lan Tianli during his time as vice chairman of the autonomous region government. Liu Hongwu, the former vice chairman of the autonomous region government, who was investigated in January 2022, and Qin Rupei, the former vice chairman of the autonomous region government, who was investigated in April 2024, were both subordinates of Lan Tianli.

Lan Tianli, referred to as the 'Strong King,' was on the verge of becoming a national leader. His downfall coincides with fierce internal conflicts within the upper ranks of the Communist Party of China (CPC) since Shi Taifeng took office, amid rumours of Xi Jinping's waning power. This situation has garnered significant attention, especially with the upcoming Fourth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee, a crucial meeting for CPC personnel arrangements. According to the CPC's unwritten rules, senior officials from ethnic minority autonomous regions typically ascend to the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) or the National People's Congress (NPC) as vice-ministerial leaders upon reaching a certain age, serving as representatives of national leadership. Had there been no unforeseen circumstances, Lan Tianli might have been promoted to vice-chairman of the CPPCC in March 2028. However, the 'Strong King' is not strong, and Lan is no longer in the picture. Recent reports indicate that, in addition to his brother, his wife has also been detained.

The scale and speed of the purges before the Fourth Plenary Session of the CPC have surpassed external expectations. Political analysts suggest that the pressure for personnel adjustments among the CPC's upper echelons is substantial, with factions manoeuvring for power and determining who can access the core of authority, necessitating strategic planning. Consequently, the CPC's current calls for rectification are aimed at reshaping the dynamics of this personnel struggle. Furthermore, this year, prior to Lan's situation, two other former chairmen of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, Qizhala and Jiang Chaoliang, the former secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee, were also removed, highlighting the rapid intensification of fierce power struggles over personnel issues.

Guangxi is known as the 'old nest' of Guo Shengkun, the former Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China. Guo has held several significant positions, including Deputy Secretary of the Guangxi Party Committee, Vice Chairman, Secretary of the Party Committee, and concurrently the Director of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress and Secretary of the Party Group. In recent years, the Guangxi public security system has experienced ongoing upheaval, with numerous high-ranking officials in the political and legal sectors being dismissed, such as Tang Bin, Deputy Director of the Guangxi Public Security Department and Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, and Yuan Jianhui, Deputy Mayor and Director of the Public Security Bureau of Beihai City.