The Director of the Central Security Bureau, responsible for the protection of Chinese President Xi Jinping, has gained attention as he appeared at a diplomatic summit, indicating a shift in his status. Zhou Hongxu, 55, was present at the meeting between President Xi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 12.
Typically, the Director of the Central Security Bureau accompanies Xi on foreign trips but does not appear at the summit table. However, state-run CCTV captured Zhou sitting between Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Chaoxu and Assistant Foreign Minister Hong Lei during the meeting.
The Central Security Bureau is affiliated with the General Office of the Communist Party of China and the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, responsible for the safety of Xi and other top leaders, as well as the security of Zhongnanhai. The role of the bureau director requires not only specialized security skills but also the absolute trust of the top leader.
If Zhou were solely responsible for security, he would not have been present at the summit. His appearance in a suit, rather than military uniform, alongside diplomatic officials suggests he may have taken on a role beyond that of a mere security chief. Speculation has arisen that he may also serve as Deputy Director of the General Office, although there has been no official announcement from Chinese state media confirming this.
This incident indicates that Zhou's responsibilities extend beyond security to include diplomatic and security matters, reaffirming his significant trust from President Xi. Observers suggest that Zhou is emerging as a key military figure trusted by Xi, with potential for a move to a core military position within the Central Military Commission or other key military roles at the upcoming National Congress of the Communist Party of China next year.
Notably, Zhou is not just a figure from the security line; he has a background in the field. Born in 1971, he holds a master's degree from the Army Artillery Academy and has served as the commander of the artillery regiment of the 40th Division of the 14th Group Army, head of the military training department of the Chengdu Military Region, and deputy chief of staff of the Northern Theater Command. He was appointed as the Director of the Central Security Bureau in 2021 and was elected as a delegate to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022. He currently holds the rank of Major General.
Currently, the Chinese military leadership is experiencing significant vacancies due to anti-corruption efforts. Former Vice Chairman of the Military Commission He Weidong was dismissed in October last year, and former Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia was removed in January. Of the seven members of the Central Military Commission, five have been dismissed, leaving only two remaining. According to a report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) released in February, only 11 of the 52 key military positions in China are currently filled.
While it is premature to conclude that Zhou will immediately enter the Central Military Commission based solely on his attendance at the summit, his presence at such a high-profile diplomatic event alongside Xi is noteworthy. It may signal how Xi intends to elevate certain officers to key military positions ahead of next year's party congress.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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