The Xi Jinping faction, also referred to as the Xi Clan, is a term used by political analysts to describe a network of officials within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) closely associated with General Secretary Xi Jinping.
The faction encompasses officials who advanced their political careers under Xi's patronage during his earlier leadership tenures in various provinces. Those who served under Xi during his time as Party Secretary of Zhejiang (2002–2007) are often referred to as the New Zhijiang Army, while those with prior affiliations to Xi from his period in Fujian are collectively known as the Fujian clique. In addition, there are other groups of officials, including those that worked in Shaanxi (Xi's home province), those affiliated with Xi during his tenure in Shanghai (2007), or those hailing from a military-industrial complex background.
Officials affiliated with Xi have rapidly gained dominance during his leadership, leading the Xi's faction to be the dominant one. Of the 25 members of the 19th Politburo, 11 had previously worked with Xi, or were fellow townsmen or classmates. Nearly all members of the 20th Politburo are considered to be a part of the Xi Jinping faction.
New Zhijiang Army The New Zhijiang Army refers to people who were closely associated with Xi during his tenure in Zhejiang and identify with his political views, and who have since then taken on prominent political posts at the provincial level or in central party and state organs. The term was first widely used by Ma Haoliang (), editor at Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, in the article "New Zhijiang Army of Chinese Politics". The term Zhijiang refers to the Qiantang River, which runs through the province, but is often used as a poetic reference for the greater Zhejiang region. The term was initially used as title to Xi Jinping's book Zhijiang Xinyu, a book compiling the political philosophies of Xi Jinping during his five-year term as party chief of Zhejiang, published in 2007.
NameBornOffice held in Zhejiang during Xi's termOffice held at present Cai Qi December 1955 Party Secretary of Quzhou, Party Secretary of Taizhou First-ranked Secretary of the CCP Secretariat Huang Kunming November 1956 Mayor of HuzhouParty Secretary of Jiaxing Party Secretary of Guangdong Chen Derong March 1961 Mayor of Jiaxing Chief executive of China Baowu Steel Group Bayanqolu October 1955 Party Secretary of Ningbo Lou Yangsheng October 1959 Party Secretary of Lishui Xia Baolong December 1952 Deputy Party Secretary of Zhejiang Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office Li Qiang July 1959 Secretary-General of Zhejiang Party Committee Premier of China Chen Min'er September 1960 Head of Zhejiang provincial party Propaganda Department Party Secretary of Tianjin Ying Yong November 1957 Director of Supervision Department, ZhejiangPresident of Zhejiang High CourtDeputy Secretary of Zhejiang Discipline Inspection Commission Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate Zhong Shaojun 1968 Deputy Head of the Organization Department of Zhejiang Party Committee Li Xi1956Secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline InspectionChen XiSeptember 1953 President of the Central Party SchoolHe LifengFebruary 1955Vice Premier of ChinaShu Guozeng1956Chen YixinSeptember 1959Minister of State Security
Fujian clique The Fujian clique refers to a group of Chinese politicians closely allied with Xi, who developed this network of trusted allies during his time in Fujian from 1985 to 2002, and has appointed them to influential roles and positions within Chinese politics since he became leader of China, particularly within the military and police. The Fujian clique is one of the two most important political groupings in the Xi administration alongside the New Zhijiang Army.
Wang Xiaohong, State Councilor and Minister of Public Security, Deng Weiping, member of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security, He Weidong, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (2022–2025), Zhuang Rongwen, Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, He Lifeng, Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China, Cai Qi, First Secretary of the Secretariat of the Chinese Communist Party, Miao Hua, Director of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission (2017–2025) Zhao Keshi, Director of the Logistic Support Department of the Central Military Commission (2012–2017) Cai Yingting, Commander of Nanjing Military Region (2012–2016) Huang Kunming, Communist Party Secretary of Guangdong
Others Other politicians have been named by Chinese-language media as associates of Xi Jinping. They have known or worked under him as a result of their regional tenures in Shaanxi province (Xi's "home province"), the southeast (Zhejiang and Fujian provinces), or through Tsinghua University, where Xi spent time in his youth. Those named include Wang Qishan, Li Zhanshu, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Yiting, Wang Xiaohong, Li Shulei, and Huang Xingguo (since disgraced). In the military, Liu Yuan, Zhang Youxia, and Liu Yazhou have been named as some of Xi's top associates.
See also Shanghai clique Tuanpai
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