Li Zhaoting, the controlling shareholder of Hebei-based Dongxu Group and once the province’s richest man, has been detained by the Shijiazhuang Public Security Bureau. Online commentators have described him as a “white glove” for retired Politburo Standing Committee member Li Zhanshu. Some analysts, including U.S.-based commentator Chen Pokong, suggest the move may reflect tensions between Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping and Li Zhanshu following the Party’s Third Plenum.
Li Zhaoting’s detention draws scrutiny
On Feb. 13, 2026, authorities in Shijiazhuang detained Li Zhaoting, the de facto controller of Dongxu Group. While the case has been presented as a law enforcement action against a businessman, discussion online has focused on Li’s political connections.
Public information shows that Li Zhaoting once ranked as Hebei’s richest individual, with a reported net worth of 23.5 billion yuan (approximately 3.3 billion USD) at his peak. Through investments in the photovoltaic sector, Dongxu Group received tens of billions of yuan in subsidies and bank loans from financial institutions and local governments.
According to a post on the social media platform X by the blogger “New Heights,” Dongxu Group’s liabilities have reached 142.6 billion yuan (approximately 19.9 billion USD). Several affiliated listed companies have been delisted. Chinese regulators have imposed penalties for financial fraud, non-operational fund occupation, and fraudulent issuance. Li Zhaoting himself was fined 590 million yuan (approximately 82 million USD).
Accounts on X, including “Sino-Japan Political and Economic Review” (President Lu), have alleged that Li Zhaoting served as a “white glove” for Li Zhanshu. The same account claimed that the scale of Dongxu’s debt and regulatory violations made it impossible for political protection to continue.
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Another X commentator, “Factional Commentary,” wrote that Li Zhaoting’s arrest was “closely related to the Li Zhanshu family,” citing Dongxu Optoelectronics’ receipt of large-scale subsidies and loans and the exposure of its 142.6 billion yuan liability gap.
Some online users speculated about Li’s political backing, posting comments such as: “Behind every big boss stands a big official,” and “Li Zhanshu cannot protect himself, which is why Li Zhaoting’s case surfaced.” Others alleged that Li Zhaoting transferred at least 150 billion yuan (approximately 20.9 billion USD) in assets overseas through Li Zhanshu’s daughter, though no official confirmation of such claims has been made.
Li Zhanshu’s career and relationship with Xi Jinping
Li Zhanshu, born Aug. 30, 1950, in Pingshan, Hebei Province, served as a member of the CCP Politburo Standing Committee before retiring in March 2023. In the 1980s, Li was Party secretary of Wuji County in Hebei, while Xi Jinping served as Party secretary of neighboring Zhengding County. Their professional relationship dates back to that period.
Li later held senior positions in Shaanxi, Heilongjiang, and Guizhou provinces. In 2012, ahead of the CCP’s 18th National Congress, he was transferred to Beijing as deputy director and then director of the CCP General Office, and was elevated to the Politburo. In 2017, he joined the Politburo Standing Committee, and in March 2020 he became chairman of the National People’s Congress. He retired in March 2023.
During Xi Jinping’s tenure, Li Zhanshu was widely regarded as a close ally. As director of the General Office, he frequently accompanied Xi on overseas visits and played a role in constitutional amendments that enabled Xi to secure a third term.
At the closing session of the 20th Party Congress, Li Zhanshu drew attention when former Party leader Hu Jintao was escorted out of the meeting hall. Video footage showed Li interacting briefly during the incident, which was widely circulated online.
Allegations surrounding the Third Plenum
Chen Pokong has stated in his self-media program that Li Zhanshu was relatively cautious in his earlier provincial posts but later accumulated significant influence. He cited claims that relatives of Li engaged in business activities in Guizhou and were involved in disputes with local entrepreneurs. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Chen also linked Li Zhaoting’s detention to developments at the CCP’s Third Plenum in July 2024. According to Chen, Xi Jinping experienced a medical incident during the meeting, after which Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia presided over daily operations. Chen further alleged that certain political elders participated in later sessions of the plenum and advocated a return to “collective leadership.” No official statement has confirmed these claims.
Chen said Li Zhanshu, who rose under former CCP leader Hu Jintao before becoming a senior figure under Xi, may have been inclined to align with other senior figures during the plenum discussions.
Chen argued that Li Zhaoting’s detention could be interpreted as a warning to Li Zhanshu. He suggested that actions against business associates or former aides have been used previously in political signaling within the Party. According to Chen, such measures can serve as pressure on retired senior officials not to take positions at odds with the current leadership.
No official statement has linked Li Zhaoting’s case to Li Zhanshu or to any internal Party dispute. Chinese authorities have not publicly addressed the online allegations.
By Li Deyan
Editor’s Note: This article is based on media reports, publicly shared online posts, and commentary from overseas analysts. Allegations referenced in this report have not been independently verified.
