Party and State: Jiang Jiemin Removed From Post; Key Removals and Appointments

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Jiang Jiemin Removed From Post; Key Removals and Appointments

The State Council has announced that Jiang Jiemin will be removed from his post as the head of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.

Jiang has been under investigation for serious "suspected serious disciplinary violation" the investigation was seen as the first move against old timer Zhou "The Bulldog" Yangkong,

"Jiang is considered the head of the 'oil faction' and a lead protege of former Communist Party Politburo Standing Committee member Zhou Yongkang in the oil system. His downfall adds further suspicion to rumours in the outside world about Zhou Yongkang being in trouble."

The investigation into Zhou that had been agreed by the Politburo earlier in the month, fell apart when it came out that ol' Zhou was merely helping the police with their enquiries, rather then target of an investigation.

In addition to axe falling on Jiang, a number of new token appointments have been made:

Wang Wenbin was appointed SASAC deputy director, replacing Shao Ning; Shi Yaobin was appointed vice minister of finance, replacing Li Yong; Chen Shixin was appointed World Bank executive director for China, replacing Yang Shaolin.

Ning Jizhe was appointed the head of the Research Office of the State Council; Wang Shouwen, Wang Bingnan and Zhang Xiangchen were appointed assistant commerce ministers; Fu Zhenghua, incumbent head of Beijing's Public Security Bureau, was appointed vice minister of public security.