Another round of senior personnel changes has affected the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, with several officials regarded by outside observers as close associates of Public Security Minister Wang Xiaohong transferred to other posts or removed over the past year.
The latest reshuffle was announced by state news agency Xinhua on June 26, when the State Council approved appointments involving multiple central government agencies.
Among them, Yue Xiuhu was appointed deputy head of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s top economic planning body. Other appointments included Zhang Guangjun as vice minister of science and technology, Hu Jinyang as deputy head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and Luo Tianshu as deputy head of the State Taxation Administration.
Yue’s transfer attracted particular attention because he had served as a member of the Communist Party committee of the Ministry of Public Security and as its counterterrorism commissioner since June 2024.
Before joining the ministry, Yue served as vice governor of Yunnan Province and head of its public security department. Earlier in his career, he worked extensively within the National Development and Reform Commission before holding senior provincial government positions.
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Broader personnel changes
Yue’s reassignment follows a series of leadership changes within the Ministry of Public Security over the past year.
In January 2026, Assistant Minister Liu Zhongyi left his post before reaching retirement age. In April, Lü Wuqin, formerly head of the anti-smuggling bureau jointly administered by the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Customs, was appointed assistant minister.
Other changes include:
- Jia Lijun becoming head of the ministry’s Political Department in September 2025.
- Ling Zhifeng’s promotion to vice minister and head of the Security Guard Bureau in July 2025.
- Yang Weilin’s appointment as vice minister in July 2025.
- The departures of vice ministers Chen Siyuan and Sun Maoli during the same period.
- Hu Binchen’s transfer from the ministry to become vice governor of Jiangsu Province and provincial public security chief.
- Xu Ganlu’s removal as vice minister and head of the National Immigration Administration in April 2025, with Wang Zhizhong later assuming leadership of the immigration agency.
Several overseas Chinese commentators have noted that a number of officials leaving the ministry previously worked closely with Wang Xiaohong, while many of those newly appointed to senior positions do not appear to share significant prior career ties with him.
Ministry under central inspection
The personnel adjustments coincided with an inspection of the Ministry of Public Security by the Communist Party’s 12th Central Inspection Team, which conducted its review from mid-April through June 23, 2026.
China’s central inspection system is one of the Party’s primary mechanisms for reviewing discipline, governance and political compliance within major state institutions. Inspection teams routinely examine ministries, state-owned enterprises and provincial governments.
Some overseas political analysts have argued that the timing of the leadership changes alongside the inspection has increased attention on developments inside the ministry, though Chinese authorities have not linked the appointments to the inspection process.
Wang Xiaohong’s recent public activities
Separately, Xinhua reported on June 27 that Wang Xiaohong spent June 25 and June 26 on an inspection tour of Jilin Province, where he visited companies involved in automobile manufacturing, petrochemicals, new materials and new energy industries.
According to the official report, Wang called for implementing what the Communist Party describes as Xi Jinping’s economic thought, fostering “new quality productive forces,” improving the business environment and coordinating development with security.
Some overseas observers noted that the report identified Wang by his titles as member of the Communist Party Secretariat and State Councilor, but did not refer to him as Minister of Public Security. Chinese state media occasionally vary which official titles are used in news reports, and no official explanation was provided for the omission.
Wang has served as China’s Minister of Public Security since June 2022 and is widely regarded as one of President Xi Jinping’s closest political allies, having worked with Xi during their overlapping careers in Fujian Province.
While the recent personnel changes have prompted discussion among overseas commentators about possible political implications, Chinese authorities have presented the appointments as routine government personnel adjustments and have not indicated that they reflect broader changes within the country’s security leadership.
