Wang Yi to Retire? Rumors Say Xi Mingze Now Controls Foreign Affairs and the Women’s Federation

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis meet in Bellinzona

[People News] According to revelations by independent media commentator Jiang Wangzheng, current Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is about to retire. One of his three current positions—Director of the Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission (Office of the CCP Central Committee’s Foreign Affairs Commission)—will reportedly be taken over by Shen Yiqin, president of the All-China Women’s Federation.

According to public information, Shen Yiqin, of Bai ethnicity, is from Zhijin, Guizhou Province. She holds the rank of vice-national-level official, graduated from the History Department of Guizhou University, and earned a postgraduate degree from the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party while in service. She has served as deputy Party secretary of Guizhou Province, governor of the provincial government, and provincial Party secretary. She is currently a State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China, member of the State Council’s Leading Party Members Group, director of the State Council’s Working Committee on Women and Children, and president of the All-China Women’s Federation.

Shen Yiqin was an alternate member of the CCP’s 17th and 18th Central Committees and a full member of the 19th and 20th Central Committees. She is the third woman in PRC history to have served as Party secretary of a provincial-level administrative region.

The Beijing Global Women’s Summit brought Shen Yiqin into the spotlight—but the one truly delighted was Xi Mingze. According to the self-media outlet Neican (“Insider”), Xi Jinping hopes for his illegitimate son to succeed him, which angered his wife Peng Liyuan and their daughter Xi Mingze. To appease Xi Mingze, Xi spent enormous resources to organize the World Women’s Summit. Xi has never shown much concern for women’s status, which led Iceland’s female president to mock him.

Neican further revealed that Xi Mingze, besides taking control of the All-China Women’s Federation, will also become involved in foreign affairs, with Shen Yiqin serving as her key subordinate. Now that Shen Yiqin is rumored to be appointed director of the Foreign Affairs Office, this corroborates that Xi Mingze is effectively in charge of both foreign affairs and the Women’s Federation.

According to political commentators, the position of foreign minister may be taken over by Ma Zhaoxu. The Chosun Ilbo reported on the 23rd that Ma Zhaoxu made a non-public visit to South Korea earlier this week. It is speculated that this was a preparatory trip for Xi Jinping’s upcoming three-day, two-night visit to South Korea in connection with the APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) Summit. Ma Zhaoxu has long served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is highly valued by Wang Yi. He may not become Xi Mingze’s lackey, meaning the Foreign Ministry could become another battleground for factional struggles.

After Xi Jinping secured his third term, many observers viewed it as a sign of his imperial enthronement. If he continues to delay naming a successor, it surely implies his intention to have his offspring inherit power. As the eldest daughter, Xi Mingze has already stepped onto the historical stage, according to various media reports. In the future, open and covert struggles among Xi’s children and his concubines within the inner circle are expected to intensify further.

(First published by People News)
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