Xi Jinping Expands Control Over Judiciary and Public Security... Close Aide Appointed as Head of Judiciary

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Tang Yijun, a close aide of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has been appointed as the Minister of Justice.

On the 29th, China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported that Tang was appointed as Minister of Justice at the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) held that day.

Recently, rumors have spread in China that Fu Zhenghua, a member of former President Jiang Zemin's faction and Minister of Justice, was dismissed, signaling a reshuffle of senior officials in the judicial and public security sectors.

The newly appointed Minister of Justice, Tang Yijun, previously served as Party Secretary of Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province during the period from 2002 to 2007 when President Xi held positions such as Deputy Party Secretary and Secretary of Zhejiang Province. He is known in Chinese political circles as a figure aligned with President Xi. Since rumors had circulated early on that Tang, a close aide of President Xi, would be appointed to the Minister of Justice position, this appointment is seen as a predicted personnel move.

With Sun Lijun, Vice Minister of Public Security and a member of former President Jiang Zemin's faction, also falling from power due to corruption charges, the judicial and public security sectors are being purged of Jiang's influence and filled with President Xi's close aides. The Ministry of Public Security has already been staffed with loyalists of President Xi, such as Wang Xiaohong, Deng Weiping, and Meng Qingfeng, who are known as 'Xi's old direct subordinates' (Xi Zajun).

Meanwhile, at the same NPC Standing Committee meeting, Huang Runqiu, Vice Minister of Ecology and Environment, was promoted to Minister.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.