Rising Chinese political star Wang Junzheng confirmed in Xinjiang security role
- New role will see former Changchun party chief taking responsibility for security crackdown that has seen a reported 1 million Muslims interned
- Official media reports that Wang told law and order body he would ensure the party’s ‘absolute leadership’ in the autonomous region
Wang Junzheng, one of the Chinese Communist Party’s rising stars, has officially taken over as the party secretary in charge of law and order in Xinjiang.
Xinjiang Daily reported on Tuesday that the former party chief of Changchun city had presided over a meeting of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission – the top political body responsible for law and order in the region – in Urumqi on Monday.
Speaking at the meeting, Wang vowed to “ensure the party’s absolute leadership over political and legal work, and firmly implement the Party Central Committee’s strategy in governing Xinjiang.”
The South China Morning Post reported earlier this month that the 56-year-old cadre has been transferred to Xinjiang and he would take up his position as political and legal affairs secretary of the region.
Wang will be tasked with implementing China’s “stabilising measures” in Xinjiang – including the oversight of the controversial “internment camps” where an estimated 1 million inmates, mainly Uygur Muslims, are reportedly being held.
A source familiar with Wang told the Post that the Shandong-native was among a group of up-and-coming cadres who have won the trust of President Xi Jinping and had a “bright future”.
Observers believe he is not likely to implement drastic changes to Beijing’s tight control policies in Xinjiang.