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China’s Ministry of Public Security gets new party chief amid corruption drive targeting law enforcement
- Wang Xiaohong, a ‘trusted’ associate of President Xi Jinping, takes over the role ahead of a major leadership shake-up next year
- The legal and police systems are the main focus of a national rectification campaign that has snared two senior figures in recent months
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A long-time associate of Chinese President Xi Jinping has been named as the Ministry of Public Security’s party chief amid an anti-corruption drive targeting the law enforcement apparatus.
Wang Xiaohong, 64, currently deputy minister of public security and a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, will replace Zhao Kezhi in the role, according to state-owned newspaper Legal Daily.
Zhao, 68, has already reached retirement age but will remain as Minister of Public Security, although Wang is now widely tipped as his successor.
Wang’s promotion is one of the key appointments ahead of next year’s party congress, which is expected to confirm another term for Xi and shake up the rest of the top leadership team.
This year marked the start of a nationwide rectification campaign to investigate corruption in the law enforcement and legal apparatus and remove officials who are disloyal to the party.
Since 2013, at least five deputy ministers of public security have been sacked, including two in recent months.
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