On July 27, 2026, two senior executives from CNOOC were investigated simultaneously, marking a continued and extensive purge of Zeng Qinghong's power base that has lasted for many years. (Composite image from Dajiyuan)
[People News] On October 29, 2026, the four-day Fifth Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China concluded. Just two days later, on October 31, Fu Chengyu, a senior figure in the oil faction associated with former Standing Committee member Zeng Qinghong and the former chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, was placed under investigation at the age of 75, marking him as the 'first tiger' to be targeted after the Fifth Plenary Session.
In the lead-up to the Fifth Plenary Session, Huang Qifan, a senior member of the Shanghai faction who had been retired for many years, was also taken down, causing significant upheaval in Shanghai's political and business circles. Furthermore, the local government in Ji'an, Jiangxi, Zeng Qinghong's hometown, underwent extensive purging. Reports have surfaced indicating that the Zeng Qinghong family is deeply implicated in both the Ma Xingrui case and the Evergrande Xu Jiayin case. Additionally, some media personalities have disclosed that Zeng Qinghong is currently under a state of soft or semi-soft detention. These numerous indicators suggest that the Jiang faction's Shanghai clique may become a target for purging, placing Zeng Qinghong in a precarious situation.
1. Zeng Qinghong's Oil Faction Loyalist: Fu Chengyu Investigated 11 Years After Retirement
On October 31, 2026, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China announced on its website that Fu Chengyu, the former secretary of the Party Committee and chairman of China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation, is under investigation. Fu Chengyu previously served as a member of the 17th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and as a standing committee member of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
According to public records, Fu Chengyu was born in 1951 in Heilongjiang. He graduated from the geology department of Northeast Petroleum University and joined China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) in 1982. With over 40 years of experience in the petroleum industry, he has played a key role in several Sino-foreign cooperative oilfield projects. His career includes positions such as Deputy General Manager and General Manager of CNOOC's Eastern South China Sea Company, Deputy General Manager of CNOOC, President of CNOOC Limited, and Chairman and CEO of CNOOC Oilfield Services Limited. In October 2003, he was appointed General Manager of CNOOC and also served as Chairman and CEO of CNOOC Limited. In April 2011, he took on the role of Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Chairman of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). He retired in May 2015 and was investigated 11 years later.
Fu Chengyu is considered a close ally of Zeng Qinghong, a former Standing Committee member associated with the Jiang faction. The China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC), Sinopec, and CNOOC have historically been under the influence of Jiang faction leaders Zeng Qinghong and Zhou Yongkang.
In 1979, Zeng Qinghong worked as the secretary to Yu Qiuli, who was the Director of the National Development and Reform Commission of the Communist Party of China. Yu Qiuli, a fellow native from Ji'an in Jiangxi, had previously served as the Minister of the Ministry of Petroleum Industry and held the rank of lieutenant general during the early years of the Communist Party. In 1980, the National Energy Commission was established, with Yu Qiuli as its Director. Zeng Qinghong became the Deputy Director of the Office of the National Energy Commission of the Communist Party in 1981; in 1982, he was reassigned to the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Petroleum; from 1983 to 1984, he held the positions of Deputy Manager of the Liaison Department of CNOOC, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Petroleum, and Secretary of the Party Committee of the South Yellow Sea Petroleum Company.
After Jiang Zemin assumed power, Zeng Qinghong, during his time as the Director of the General Office and Minister of the Organisation Department, significantly promoted and nurtured loyalists within the petroleum sector, thereby maintaining long-term control over China's oil industry. He has been viewed as the leader of the so-called 'oil gang'.
According to a report from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection of the Communist Party of China, four senior executives from the petroleum sector were investigated within two weeks leading up to the Fifth Plenary Session of the Communist Party. On October 23, 2026, Qian Zhijia, the former general manager and deputy secretary of the Party Committee of China National Petroleum Corporation Sales Company, was placed under investigation. Guo Shaoqiang, the general manager of Sinopec's Jingmen Branch, voluntarily surrendered on the same day. Xiao Huaping, the deputy general manager and safety director of the Beijing Pipeline Company under the National Petroleum and Natural Gas Pipeline Group Co., Ltd., was dismissed on October 19, 2026. Shi Changchun, the secretary of the Party Committee and representative of the Tibet Petroleum Branch of Sinopec Sales Co., Ltd., was dismissed on October 13, 2026.
2. Zeng Qinghong's Hometown in Jiangxi Ji'an: Former Executive Vice Mayor Wang Dasheng and Several Other Officials Investigated
On the eve of the Fifth Plenary Session of the Communist Party, on October 20, 2026, Wang Dasheng, who was formerly a member of the Standing Committee of the Ji'an Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, as well as the former deputy secretary of the Party Group of the Municipal Government and executive vice mayor, was reported to have been dismissed.
Public records indicate that Wang Dasheng was born in November 1969 and hails from Ji'an, Jiangxi. He has held various positions in Ji'an City, including deputy secretary and county head of Xiajiang County, deputy secretary and county head of Yongfeng County, vice mayor and Party group member of Ji'an City, member of the Standing Committee of the Ji'an Municipal Committee, Minister of Propaganda, and executive vice mayor, among others.
From February 2001 to November 2002, Wang Dasheng also served as the deputy secretary of the Party Committee, town head, and Party Committee secretary of Yonghe Town in Ji'an County, which is known as Zeng Qinghong's hometown.
According to public reports, Zeng Qinghong's father, Zeng Shan, was born in 1899 in Jinyuan Village, Yonghe Town, Jian County, Ji'an City, Jiangxi Province. Zeng Qinghong spent his childhood living in his hometown of Ji'an.
During his time as a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, Zeng Qinghong frequently returned to Ji'an for inspections. On April 20, 2019, Zeng Qinghong, who had been out of office for over a decade, made a public appearance in Ji'an City, drawing significant attention from the public.
According to official announcements, since the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, more than ten officials at the department and bureau level in Ji'an City have been investigated over the past five years, with most of them voluntarily coming forward. In the last month and a half alone, several officials in Ji'an City have voluntarily confessed to issues and accepted investigations. These include: Liu Shengchun, the former Party Secretary and Director of the Ji'an County Bureau of Land and Resources (October 20, 2026), Hu Xianwei, a member of the Party Committee of the Ji'an County Housing and Urban-Rural Development Bureau (October 15, 2026), Xiao Chengjun, the former Party Secretary and Director of the Ji'an County Water Resources Bureau (October 9, 2026), and Zhang Xuewei, the former Standing Committee member and Minister of Propaganda of the Jizhou District Committee of Ji'an City (September 11, 2026).
According to a report from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) official website, from September 2026 to the present, in addition to the downfall of Wang Dasheng, the former executive vice mayor of Ji'an, Jiangxi, over ten officials at the department and bureau level associated with the Jiangxi faction led by Zeng Qinghong have been investigated. These include: Huang Mingzhong, the former deputy secretary of the Party Committee and president of Jiangxi Vocational and Technical College of Transportation (October 22, 2026), Pan Changkang, the former deputy director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Finance (October 11, 2026), Wang Bin, a second-level inspector of the Jiujiang Municipal Government and former deputy secretary of the Lushan Municipal Committee and mayor (October 8, 2026), Rao Shaoqing, the former member of the Standing Committee of the Nanchang Municipal Committee and minister of the United Front Work Department (September 22, 2026), Xiong Sunkui, the former vice chairman of the Shangrao Municipal Political Consultative Conference (September 21, 2026), Lai Xiaojun, a member of the Party Group and deputy director of the Jiangxi Provincial Geological Bureau (September 16, 2026), Wang Ligeng, the former secretary of the Party Group and director of the Jingdezhen Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee (September 13, 2026), Liao Ruizhao, the former first-level inspector of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Water Resources (September 10, 2026), Cao Aizhen, a member of the Party Group and deputy director of the Jiangxi Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (September 9, 2026), Wan Xiuqi, the former member of the Party Committee of the Jiangxi Provincial Public Security Department (September 6, 2026), and Tan Ganming, the former deputy secretary and former mayor of the Yichun Municipal Committee (September 4, 2026).
3. In a related development, 74-year-old Huang Qifan, a prominent figure from the Shanghai faction who was promoted by Zeng Qinghong, has also been placed under investigation.
On October 13, 2026, it was officially announced that Huang Qifan, a senior official from the Shanghai faction and former mayor of Chongqing, who has been retired for many years, is now under investigation.
Huang Qifan worked in Shanghai for 33 years, from 1968 to 2001, holding various positions including Director of the Shanghai Economic Information Centre, Deputy Director of the Pudong New Area Management Committee, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Committee, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government. He has close connections with the family of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin and influential figures in the Shanghai Gang, such as Zeng Qinghong.
Zeng Qinghong served in several key roles from 1984 to 1989, including Deputy Minister and Minister of the Organisation Department of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CCP, a member of the Standing Committee of the Municipal Committee, Secretary of the Municipal Committee, and Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee. From March 1999 to October 2002, he was the Minister of the Organisation Department, overseeing the assessment and selection of provincial and ministerial-level officials. During this time, Huang Qifan was reassigned in October 2001 from his role as Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal Government and Director of the Economic Commission to become Vice Mayor of Chongqing. In May 2002, he was promoted to a member of the Standing Committee of the Chongqing Municipal Committee and Executive Vice Mayor.
Following Huang Qifan's downfall, commentator Jiang Wangzheng disclosed that the breadth and significance of the Huang Qifan case were unprecedented, revealing deep connections with the Jiang Zemin family and various factions. After the centenary of Jiang Zemin's birth, a reckoning with the Shanghai Gang began, with officials from the Jiang Zemin era undergoing thorough scrutiny.
4. Zeng Qinghong's Family: Dark Secrets Involving Evergrande's Xu Jiayin Case Exposed
In the lead-up to and following the Evergrande crisis and the arrest of Xu Jiayin, the Zeng Qinghong family's involvement in the dark secrets surrounding the Xu Jiayin case has been continuously revealed.
In 2021, Evergrande Group faced a major debt crisis. In September 2023, the company's founder, Xu Jiayin, was taken by police to a 'designated location for residential surveillance.' On August 20, 2026, Xu Jiayin was sentenced to life imprisonment on multiple charges, including fundraising fraud and embezzlement. Allegations suggest that he is connected to a group of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) elites, including retired Politburo Standing Committee member Zeng Qinghong from the Jiang faction, the Jia Qinglin family, and former Politburo member Ma Xingrui, among other high-ranking officials.
Australian scholar Yuan Hongbing stated to the Dajiyuan that it is widely recognised within CCP circles that Xu Jiayin acts as the 'white glove' for the Zeng Qinghong family. He attributed the significant growth of Xu Jiayin's real estate business to the full backing of Zeng Qinghong. Yuan noted, 'Those connected to Xu Jiayin include Zeng Qinghong's brother, Zeng Qinghuai, and Zeng Qinghong's son, Zeng Wei; Zeng Qinghong himself cannot appear publicly. Zeng Qinghuai represents the Zeng Qinghong family.'
Public reports indicate that Xu Jiayin previously served as a director of the Hong Kong Cultural Industry Alliance, often referred to as the 'Hong Kong Tycoons Club.' Zeng Qinghong's brother, Zeng Qinghuai, has held positions such as a special inspector for the Ministry of Culture of the CCP in Hong Kong and the lifelong honorary chairman of the Hong Kong Chinese Cultural City, where he has considerable influence in the cultural sector. Through the Hong Kong Cultural Industry Alliance, Xu Jiayin was able to forge connections with Zeng Qinghuai.
According to overseas media, in 2009, when Zeng Qinghuai's daughter, Zeng Baobao, took her Fantasia Holdings Group public in Hong Kong, Xu Jiayin purchased shares in the company. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that in 2015, Xu Jiayin lent his mansion in Australia to Zeng Wei, the son of Zeng Qinghong, for a party.
Additionally, Xu Jiayin has a strong personal friendship with Dai Yongge, the CEO of Renhe Group. Dai Yongge serves as a behind-the-scenes financier for the Zeng Qinghong family. He previously assisted Zeng Qinghong's son, Zeng Wei, in purchasing property in Australia, spending approximately 250 million yuan on a luxury mansion. Furthermore, he transferred 40% of Renhe Group's shares to Zeng Wei's wife, Jiang Mei, at no cost.
5. Ma Xingrui was promoted by Zeng Qinghong and allegedly provided information about him
On April 3, 2026, Ma Xingrui, a member of the Communist Party of China's Politburo, was officially announced to have been dismissed from his position. Following this, commentators such as Cai Shenkun and other overseas media outlets reported that during his investigation, Ma Xingrui experienced a mental breakdown due to the intense pressure and disclosed information about several current and former senior officials, including Zeng Qinghong.
In his analysis and revelations, commentator Cai Shenkun noted that just one month after Ma Xingrui was promoted to Vice President of Harbin Institute of Technology in 1996, he made an unexpected transition from a technical role in a science and engineering university to become the Deputy Director of the China Academy of Space Technology, achieving a rare leap to a ministerial-level position. This transition was largely orchestrated by Jiang Mianheng and Zeng Qinghong.
Cai Shenkun emphasised that Zeng Qinghong was the key personnel manager throughout the Jiang Zemin era and the core operator of the Organisation Department. He had the authority to determine the career paths of individuals without needing public announcements; a simple call would ensure compliance from the system. Jiang Mianheng, due to his father Jiang Zemin's connections, had long been involved in sectors such as metallurgy, aerospace, and internet technology. Given Ma Xingrui's extensive network in the industrial sector, he likely sought to cultivate a relationship with Jiang Mianheng. After assuming his role at the Fifth Academy of Aerospace, Ma Xingrui worked closely with Jiang Mianheng.
Ceng Qinghong was promoted from Director of the General Office to Minister of the Organisation Department in March 1999. Six months later, in September 1999, Ma Xingrui advanced from Deputy Director of the Space Technology Research Institute to a member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy General Manager of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation.
From 2003 to 2008, Jiang Mianheng held several significant positions, including Deputy Commander of Shenzhou 5, Chief Scientist of the 'Innovation 1' small satellite, Deputy Leader of the Lunar Exploration Engineering Leadership Group, Deputy Commander of the Chang'e Project, and Deputy Commander of Shenzhou 7, all while being closely associated with Ma Xingrui.
Reports suggest that Ma Xingrui developed a personal trust with the Jiang Zemin family that went beyond mere professional ties, allowing him direct access to Jiang Zemin's home. This type of relationship is characterised in the political landscape of the Communist Party of China as 'vassal loyalty.'
Before and after Ma Xingrui's dismissal and fall from grace, commentator Du Zheng noted that at local dining gatherings in Guangdong, it was rumoured that Xu Jiayin, the boss of Evergrande, after losing his freedom in September 2023, provided a lengthy list of high-ranking officials to the Communist authorities, which included Ma Xingrui. Ma Xingrui's rise was rooted in the aerospace military sector, but his original support came from the Jiang Zemin family, particularly Jiang Mianheng. Jiang Mianheng served as Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for 12 years, effectively controlling China's aerospace industry and having significant connections with Ma Xingrui.
6. Reports from self-media sources indicate that Ceng Qinghong is under soft or semi-soft detention.
Since the Third Plenary Session of the Communist Party of China in July 2024, Party leader Xi Jinping has faced serious health and power crises. There have been rumours of a coalition between Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia and the elders opposing Xi, with reports of actual power dynamics emerging. Following Zhang Youxia's fall from power in January 2026, the movements and situations of the Communist Party elders have attracted considerable external attention, leading to a flurry of rumours.
On October 14, 2026, commentator Jiang Wangzheng disclosed that Zeng Qinghong has been residing in Hong Kong for an extended period. Without an invitation from Cai Qi, the director of the Central Office, Zeng Qinghong and his son are reluctant to return to the mainland. Aside from being invited, Zeng Qinghong is only allowed to spend 72 hours in his hometown in Jiangxi during the Qingming Festival each year. His son, Zeng Wei, can only visit the mainland once a year to pay respects to their ancestors.
On June 13, 2025, the Chinese Communist Party held a symposium to commemorate the 120th anniversary of Chen Yun's birth, attended by numerous princelings and the second generation of red elites; however, no members of the family of former party leader Jiang Zemin or Zeng Qinghong were present.
On June 14, 2025, commentator Cai Shenkun referenced news from Beijing in his self-media program, stating that Zeng Qinghong had been placed under house arrest. Cai Shenkun expressed that he was not surprised by this news, as many of Zeng Qinghong's confidants, former subordinates, and associates had previously been targeted in the anti-corruption campaign against both high-ranking officials and lower-level figures, making Zeng Qinghong's downfall inevitable.
As early as April 2016, following the handling of political groups led by Zhou Yongkang, Bo Xilai, and military figures like Guo Boxiong, reports suggested that Zeng Qinghong, who was the mastermind behind the Zhou-Bo coup and heavily involved in the assassination plot against Xi Jinping, had been kept under internal control at his home in Beijing, with restrictions on his ability to travel abroad.
Previous reports indicated that all current or retired senior officials at the national level within the Communist Party were under surveillance by the Central Guard Bureau, which is controlled by Cai Qi, effectively placing them in a semi-house arrest situation.
Former Premier Zhu Rongji passed away on August 12, 2026, at Beijing's 301 Hospital. Sources revealed that Zhu Rongji's every action in his later years was monitored by the Communist Party; even his later medical treatment required Cai Qi's approval.
In June 2026, the American magazine "Diplomat" reported that Xi Jinping is targeting heavyweight elders within the Communist Party of China (CPC) to secure his re-election at the 21st National Congress, following a thorough purge of military leaders like Zhang Youxia. His latest crackdown is aimed at his former ally, Wang Qishan. While the Beijing authorities have not publicly charged Wang Qishan with any crimes, he is effectively under house arrest in Beijing.
Conclusion
Zeng Qinghong is the most significant confidant of former CPC leader Jiang Zemin. Following Jiang Zemin's death at the end of November 2022, Zeng Qinghong has emerged as the leading figure of the Jiang faction. He possesses a diverse political background, including connections to the CPC's princeling faction, the Shanghai clique, the Jiangxi clique, and the oil clique. Zeng Qinghong has exerted considerable influence over the CPC's national security, political law, public security, and intelligence systems, and has been involved in affairs concerning Hong Kong and Macau. Between November 2002 and October 2022, three ministers of public security and secretaries of the political and legal committee—Zhou Yongkang, Meng Jianzhu, and Guo Shengkun—were all trusted allies of Zeng Qinghong, representing the oil clique, Shanghai clique, and Jiangxi clique, respectively.
The Zeng Qinghong family maintains close ties with the CPC military. Zeng Qinghong's third brother, Zeng Qingyang, previously served as the head of the Military Academy's Military System Research Department and held the rank of Major General. His fourth brother, Zeng Qingyuan, was the deputy head of the Air Force Logistics Department and also held the rank of Major General. Zeng Qinghong's sister, Zeng Haisheng, served as the political commissar of the General Staff's Management and Support Department, holding the rank of Major General. The Zeng Qinghong family is deeply implicated in the Ma Xingrui case, the Xu Jiayin case, and various military and military-industrial scandals.
The Fifth Plenary Session has revealed numerous irregularities, underscoring the peculiar political dynamics within Zhongnanhai and the underlying currents of internal power struggles. The meeting's theme and the language of the communiqué stress the so-called 'advancement of comprehensive strict governance of the Party', setting the stage for a new wave of high-level infighting ahead of the 21st National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Fu Chengyu, a close associate of Zeng Qinghong, has emerged as the 'first tiger' following the Fifth Plenary Session, and the political implications of this development warrant attention. It remains to be seen whether Zeng Qinghong will follow the path of his confidant Zhou Yongkang and become yet another fallen 'tiger' at the ministerial level.
--Dajiyuan
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