By Li Deyan, Vision Times
China’s annual “Two Sessions” political meetings in Beijing concluded this week, but speculation is mounting after the official profile of a senior provincial official in Gansu was suddenly altered online.
Observers noticed that the Gansu provincial government’s official website recently removed public activity records associated with Lei Siwei, the province’s vice governor. The move has sparked widespread speculation that Lei may have been detained while attending the national meetings in Beijing.
China’s state media reported that the closing session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) was held at the Great Hall of the People on the afternoon of March 12, marking the official end of the country’s annual legislative gathering. However, reports circulating online suggest that not all officials who traveled to Beijing for the meetings have returned without incident.
RELATED: PLA Generals Missing From ‘Two Sessions’ Meetings as Xi Expands Military Purge
Activity records gone
Success
You are now signed up for our newsletter
Success
Check your email to complete sign up
The Gansu provincial government’s official website still lists Lei Siwei’s name and biography under the section titled “Provincial Government Leadership.” However, all records documenting his public activities have reportedly been removed. When users search for Lei’s name through the website’s search function, the system returns the message: “Sorry! We could not find the content you were looking for.”
Observers note that this differs from the normal presentation of other provincial officials, whose activity reports remain accessible. The sudden removal of information has drawn attention from analysts and internet users alike, particularly given the timing shortly after the conclusion of the Two Sessions.
Rumors circulating on social media claim that Lei was detained while attending the national meetings as a delegate to the National People’s Congress. One post by an X platform blogger using the account name “Vincent” stated: “The Gansu provincial government website has removed all content related to Gansu Party Standing Committee member and Vice Governor Lei Siwei. Lei Siwei is a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress.
The post added, “After traveling to Beijing with the Gansu delegation, he was taken away by personnel from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and was absent from all activities of the Fourth Session of the 14th NPC.” Some internet users claimed that Lei may have been taken away as early as the second day of the meetings.
Long sting in state-owned enterprises
Public records show that Lei Siwei, born in June 1966 in Jingning County, Gansu Province, spent much of his career working in state-owned enterprises before entering government service.
He held multiple technical and executive positions at Baiyin Nonferrous Group, one of China’s major mining companies. Over the years he served as deputy director of the company’s technology center, president of the Northwest Mining and Metallurgical Research Institute, and later as vice president, chief engineer, and party committee member of Baiyin Nonferrous Group.
In November 2015, Lei was appointed general manager and board member of Baiyin Nonferrous Group, marking a key leadership role within the company.
Transition to government leadership
Lei entered provincial government service in March 2018 when he was appointed director of the Gansu Provincial Environmental Protection Department. Later that year, the agency was reorganized into the Gansu Department of Ecology and Environment, where Lei became the department’s first director.
In January 2020, he was transferred to lead the Gansu Department of Natural Resources. His political career continued to advance when he was appointed Party secretary of Jiayuguan City in July 2021. In January 2023, he was promoted to vice governor of Gansu Province, and in July 2025 he was further elevated to the Gansu Provincial Party Standing Committee, placing him among the province’s top leadership ranks.
According to the Gansu government website, Lei oversaw several key policy areas, including science and technology, industrial development, housing and urban construction, human resources and social security, state-owned enterprise reform, and energy infrastructure.
Growing anxiety among officials
Before the Two Sessions convened in Beijing this year, Chinese businessman Hu Liren, who previously operated in Shanghai, claimed that anxiety had been spreading within China’s political circles. Hu alleged that many delegates to the National People’s Congress and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference feared being detained during the meetings.
According to Hu’s account, some officials even attempted to avoid traveling to Beijing by claiming illness or checking into hospitals as a way to sidestep attendance. Though the claims remain unverified, the disappearance of information related to Lei Siwei has fueled further speculation. Chinese authorities have yet to confirm whether Lei is under investigation or explain why his activity records were removed from the provincial government’s website.
Observers say the episode highlights the persistent uncertainty surrounding China’s political system, where sudden personnel changes or disappearances of officials often occur without immediate public explanation.
Editorial note: This article is based on publicly circulating reports and commentary from independent analysts. The claims described have not been independently verified by Vision Times, and relevant authorities have not publicly confirmed the allegations.
