At the "Xi-Mo meeting" held in New Delhi, India, on September 12, Zhou Hongxu (middle), the security chief of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, made a rare appearance, sitting between Ma Zhaoxu (left), China's executive vice minister of foreign affairs, and Hong Lei, assistant minister of foreign affairs.
Zhou Hongxu, director of the Security Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has kept a low profile for a long time in the past, but recently he has rarely accompanied Xi Jinping to major diplomatic occasions. CNN published a long report on the 30th stating that although Zhou Hongxu, who wears glasses and has a neat crew cut, has appeared behind Xi Jinping many times in the past, Chinese officials rarely publicly explain his position and personal background.
Zhou Hongxu accompanied Xi Jinping to New Delhi, India, to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this month. CCTV footage showed him sitting between two vice ministers of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the state banquet held for Xi Jinping at the White House, he appeared among the guests again, wearing a Chinese tunic suit and standing behind U.S. Secretary of State Rubio. The guest information released by the White House lists his official position, confirming that he serves as the director of the Central Security Bureau and the deputy director of the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
Deng Yuwen, former deputy editor-in-chief of Study Times, the official publication of the Central Party School of the Communist Party of China, told CNN that based on current public records, Zhou Hongxu may be one of the few, or even the first, top-level security official to participate in high-profile diplomatic activities so frequently. Deng Yuwen believes that if Xi Jinping deliberately allows Zhou Hongxu to increase his public exposure, it may mean that he is being given greater responsibilities and may play a more important role in leadership adjustments in the future.
Someone from the Central Security Bureau once jumped into the core of power
The Central Security Bureau is a highly confidential security agency of China's top leadership. It is mainly responsible for protecting senior leaders and the security of Zhongnanhai. CNN pointed out that this organization has both the characteristics of the police and military systems, and has long been one of the least open units at the core of China's power.
CNN also recalled that Wang Dongxing, the early head of the Central Security Bureau, served as Mao Zedong's personal guard. After the Gang of Four was arrested in 1976, Wang Dongxing further entered the core of the highest power of the Chinese Communist Party and served as vice chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. This period of history has made the outside world pay more attention to whether Zhou Hongxu's recent frequent public appearances mean that his political role is changing, but there is still no evidence to confirm what new position he will obtain.
The Communist Party of China is expected to hold its 21st National Congress in 2027. CNN pointed out that the outside world will pay attention to whether younger cadres will enter higher power positions; younger officials such as Zhou Hongxu, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning, Director of the Protocol Department Hong Lei, and Xi Jinping’s Personal Secretary Lu Luhua have recently appeared in high-level diplomatic occasions and have also been observed.
