By Li Deyan, Vision Times
China’s annual Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened in Beijing on March 4, but the absence of several senior officials from the event has drawn attention and fueled speculation about possible political developments within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to official figures, 2,078 members attended the opening session, out of 2,125 expected delegates. Among those absent were three senior vice-state-level officials: Chen Wu, vice chairman of the CPPCC; Hao Mingjin, vice chairman of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and chairman of the China Democratic National Construction Association (Minjian); and Ma Xingrui, a member of the CCP Politburo.
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All three officials have reportedly missed multiple recent political meetings, raising questions among observers about their political standing. At the same time, Qin Boyong, a CPPCC vice chairwoman who had also been absent from public events for weeks, unexpectedly appeared at the meeting.
Chen Wu absent again
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State broadcaster CCTV’s live coverage of the opening ceremony showed the first row of officials seated on the presidium platform. Among those present were CPPCC Chairman Wang Huning and vice chairpersons including Shi Taifeng, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Leung Chun-ying, and others. However, Chen Wu was notably absent. Among the CPPCC’s 23 vice chairpersons, he was the only one missing from the front row.
Political commentator “Sato Peng” wrote on the social platform X that Chen’s continued absence from such a high-profile event may indicate deeper political trouble. “Chen Wu was absent again from the opening ceremony of the CPPCC session,” the commentator wrote. “Missing such an important event suggests that, like Ma Xingrui, Chen Wu may already be facing serious problems.”
Chen’s name remains listed among the CPPCC’s vice chairpersons on the organization’s official website, but he has missed several key meetings in recent months. He was absent from the 15th Standing Committee meeting of the 14th CPPCC on March 1, as well as from the 46th CPPCC chairman’s meeting held in Beijing on Feb. 6. Observers have noted that Chen has been missing from political gatherings since late last year.
Links to Guangxi’s corruption cases
Some analysts believe Chen Wu’s absences may be connected to corruption investigations linked to officials in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, where Chen previously served as chairman of the regional government. Chen held that position from April 2013 to October 2020. During part of that time, Lan Tianli, who later became chairman of the Guangxi government, served as Chen’s deputy.
Lan Tianli was officially announced to be under investigation by Chinese authorities on May 16, 2025. Observers have pointed out that Chen’s repeated absences from CPPCC meetings began around the same period. Some online commentators have speculated that Chen could be linked to broader corruption cases involving officials from Guangxi.
Another absence drawing attention was Hao Mingjin, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and chairman of the Minjian party. According to reports from the state news agency Xinhua, Hao was the only one among 14 NPC vice chairpersons who did not attend the CPPCC opening ceremony.
An account on X known as “China Personnel Watch” noted that Hao also missed several other key meetings earlier in the week. “NPC Standing Committee Vice Chairman and Minjian chairman Hao Mingjin was absent from the preparatory meeting of the fourth session of the 14th NPC, the first presidium meeting of the NPC session, and the chairman’s meeting of the NPC Standing Committee,” the account wrote.
A tangled web
Records from the NPC’s official website indicate that Hao has missed multiple meetings since October 2025, including sessions of the NPC Standing Committee and chairman’s meetings. His last confirmed public appearance appears to have been on Sept. 29, 2025, when he chaired a Minjian leadership meeting.
Interestingly, Qin Boyong, a senior Minjian official who also serves as a CPPCC vice chairwoman, had also been absent from political events for weeks. The two officials were both missing from several Minjian meetings in late October 2025, including a national social service conference and a political symposium.
Their simultaneous absences prompted speculation online about whether they might have been under investigation. In October 2025, commentator Jiang Wangzheng, writing on X, claimed that Hao Mingjin and Qin Boyong were being investigated, stating: “Hao Mingjin, chairman of Minjian, and executive vice chairman Qin Boyong are under investigation. Vice chairman Shen Jinqiang is cooperating with investigators. A corruption case involving multiple officials.”
However, Qin Boyong later reappeared in public. She attended the 80th anniversary celebration of the China Democratic National Construction Association on Dec. 17, 2025, where she delivered a speech.
At the March 4 CPPCC opening ceremony, Qin again appeared publicly and was seen seated in the front row of the presidium platform, according to CCTV footage.
Despite Qin’s reappearance, the continued absence of Chen Wu, Hao Mingjin, and Politburo member Ma Xingrui has fueled speculation about potential political developments within China’s leadership.
Some observers have questioned whether the three vice-state-level officials may be facing disciplinary investigations. While Chinese authorities have not announced any official action against them, analysts note that prolonged absence from high-profile political meetings has historically preceded the formal announcement of corruption probes or political purges.
