Chen Wenqing

Chen Wenqing
陈文清
Chen meeting Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib in Tehran in 2019.
Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission
Assumed office
28 October 2022
General SecretaryXi Jinping
Preceded byGuo Shengkun
5th Minister of State Security
In office
7 November 2016 – 30 October 2022
PremierLi Keqiang
Preceded byGeng Huichang
Succeeded byChen Yixin
Personal details
Born (1960-01-24) 24 January 1960 (age 64)
Renshou County, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materSouthwest University of Political Science & Law
Sichuan Union University
Central institution membership
  • 20th CCP Politburo
  • 20th CCP Central Secretariat
  • 17th, 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection
  • 17th National Congress
  • 10th National People's Congress
Chinese name

Chen Wenqing (Chinese: 陈文清; pinyin: Chēn Wénqīng, IPA: [ʈʂʰən wə́nʈʂʰiŋ] ⓘ; born 24 January 1960) is a Chinese intelligence officer, politician and member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party who currently serves as the secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission. He previously led the Ministry of State Security.

Early life and education

A native of Renshou County, a rural farming and coal-mining district in Sichuan province, Chen's childhood occurred against the backdrop of the Cultural Revolution and the rise of the Red Guards movement.[1]

His father was a police officer at the Sichuan branch of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), where for 20 consecutive years, starting in 1951, the elder Chen was recognized as a Sichuan Province "progressive worker" by communist officials.[1] There are no records publicly available about the elder Chen's role, if any, in the Cultural Revolution, and the names of both Chen's mother and father remain unknown.[1]

Chen studied law and political science at Southwest University in Chongqing from September 1980 through August 1984.[1] He joined the Chinese Communist Party in March 1983.[2] He returned to school in March 1995, completing a postgraduate program in business management from Sichuan University in October 1997.[2]

Ministry of Public Security

Following his father, Chen entered the Ministry of Public Security in July 1984, beginning his service as an ordinary policeman at the Xiejia Town Police Station in the Pengshan District Public Security Bureau, in Meishan, Sichuan Province. Some accounts suggest Chen's early police work involved a particular focus on counterfeiting.[3][4] By late 1986 he was deputy director of the Public Security Bureau in Jinkouhe District, a closed city in the prefecture-level city of Leshan, Sichuan Province, home to the Heping gaseous diffusion plant (Plant 814) of Sichuan Honghua Industrial Corporation which produces high-enriched Uranium.[2][5]

From December 1986 to June 1990, Chen was Deputy Director and then Director of the Public Security Branch of Wutongqiao District, another district of Leshan.[2] In that time he was decorated for bravery for his role in stopping two armed fugitives. On November 8, 1988, Shao Jiangbin and Geng Xuejie, deserters from the Hubei province People's Armed Police, took stolen Type 56 assault rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition and began a three day murder spree through Hubei and Shaanxi to Sichuan. After a pursuit involving 1,516 soldiers and police officers, the "Baiyangou Bandits" were finally cornered by police during a nighttime standoff in a dimly lit area, when Chen reportedly left cover in order to climb behind a rock in an exposed position near where the pair were hiding, and installed searchlights to prevent them from escaping into the dark again.[6][7] Both fugitives were killed by police during the shootout. At the end of the year, Chen was selected as an "excellent police chief" of the year by superiors.[8][1]

In June 1990 he became Deputy Director of the Leshan Public Security Bureau (PSB), promoted to director in December 1992.

Ministry of State Security

In 1994, Chen was transferred to the Ministry of State Security (MSS), becoming deputy director of the Sichuan provincial State Security Department (SSD), likely as a founding member of what was a newly established department created in the third of four waves of MSS expansion.[9][10] For many Public Security Bureau officers at the time of Chen's transfer to the Sichuan SSD, "they were police one day and state security the next."[10]

From January 1997 to January 1998, Chen was deputy director, deputy secretary and secretary of the Party Leadership Group at the Sichuan SSD. In January 1998, Chen took over leadership of the Sichuan SSD, and secretary of the Party Leadership Group. That September he also took up the role of deputy secretary-general of the provincial government. He stayed on as Sichuan SSD head until April 2002, when he was appointed chief prosecutor at the Sichuan provincial People's Procuratorate.[2]

Procuratorship and anticorruption

External videos
video icon Chen speaking about anticorruption efforts in a 2014 interview with CCTV

In April 2004, Chen became more involved in legal affairs, first serving as chief prosecutor of the Sichuan Provincial People's Procuratorate before leaving Sichuan for Fujian in August 2006, becoming both deputy secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee and secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.[2][9] His public profile began to increase in this position, holding interviews with state media about his "anti-corruption concept" as early as 2008.[8] By 2012 he was talking publicly in Fujian about a need to investigate the loyalties and intents of Taiwanese businesses in the cross-straight province.[11]

While at the CCDI, Chen helped lead the "tiger hunt" (a reference to the fact Mao once called South China tigers the "enemies of man" and drove them to near-extinction) against public corruption.[12]

At the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November 2012, Xi Jinping became General Secretary of the Communist Party, and Chen moved to Beijing to become deputy secretary and member of the standing committee of the 18th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, both roles he retained until May 2015.[2]

Chen's activities during the year between his departure from CCDI in May 2015 and his appointment as party secretary of the MSS in October 2016 are entirely unclear.

PLA commissar

From January 2012 to April 2013, Chen served as political commissar of a reserve anti-aircraft artillery division of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force in Fujian province.[2] Fujian is located directly across the strait from Taiwan, and is the garrison of Eastern Theater Command (previously Nanjing Military Region), charged with maintaining security in the East China Sea and the conduct of major operations against Taiwan. "Fujian experience" is considered especially prestigious, and a key prerequisite in the career track of many senior Communist Party officials and PLA officers.[13][14]

Minister of State Security

In 2016 command of the MSS was split between outgoing Minister of State Security Geng Huichang, and Chen as new Party Secretary. Geng was due to retire, but before leaving he was placed under investigation.[15][16] Chen appointed Tang Chao as a "special agent" to look into claims that Geng had used MSS technical means to monitor the communications of senior communist party officials, including Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping.[16] Ultimately Geng was exonerated when the CCDI concluded that Zhou Yongkang had circumvented MSS leadership, including head of Counterintelligence Liang Ke.[16]

Despite no longer being blamed for the breach, Xi Jinping chose to replace Geng with Chen anyway, clearing the way for a slate of reforms meant to reduce MSS influence, and increase the influence of the First Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, which also conducts foreign intelligence operations.[16] There had already been a major shakeup of MSS regional offices underway before Chen's appointment, reportedly on the direction of Xi Jinping himself.[16] Under Chen's new leadership "arrests and purges began to multiply rapidly."[16]

Chen was appointed Party Secretary of the MSS in October 2016 and Minister of State Security on 7 November 2016.[17] He began by investigating and arresting his college friend and MSS counterintelligence head Ma Jian, reportedly as a test to prove his loyalty to the Xi Jinping faction.[16]

Belt and Road Initiative

In early 2018, Chen's MSS was given responsibility for the security of all Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects across 28 participating countries, after a lengthy fight for control against the Ministry of Public Security, CCP security coordinator Meng Jianzhu.[3][16] In response, Chen led efforts to build stronger relations with Asian allies such as U Thaung Tun, Myanmar's National Security Advisor, and General Tô Lâm, current Minister of Public Security of Vietnam. Soon after the MSS' selection for the program, Chen met with the heads of the intelligence services of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Spain, Germany and Turkey. Intelligence Online reported that Chen sought to strengthen MSS efforts in island nations that are crossed by the maritime component of the BRI, such as the Seychelles and the Maldives, in an effort to counter Indian influence, and deepen cooperation with the Turkish National Intelligence Organization (MİT), key to the MSS' efforts to identify Uyghur jihadists which remain a top concern of senior Chinese officials.[3]

Hong Kong national security law

In 2020, Chen presided over a meeting of the Party Committee of the MSS regarding implementation of the Hong Kong national security law.[18] Days after the law's passage, Chen and his ministry pledged to aid authorities in Hong Kong in its implementation.[19]

Collapse of Afghanistan

Following the Summer 2021 US withdrawal from Afghanistan, Chen reportedly met directly with acting Taliban interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani in Kabul several times as China increased support to Taliban intelligence operations.[20] He later joined senior intelligence officials from Russia, Iran and Tajikistan at a summit led by LTG Faiz Hameed, chief of Pakistan's ISI, to explore regional stability concerns among the participants as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan began to collapse.[21]

Replacement

In late February 2018, Reuters reported that five sources including two foreign diplomats confirmed to them that Chen was going to be replaced by Wang Xiaohong in the session of parliament beginning 5 March 2018. Wang was instead made Deputy Minister of Public Security at the meeting, and promoted to Minister of Public Security in November 2021, while Chen continued to lead the MSS.[22] On October 30, 2022, Chen was succeeded by Chen Yixin.[23]

Central Political and Legal Affairs secretary

At the 20th National Congress in October 2022, Chen was made a member of the Politburo and Central Secretariat.[10][24] As the only member of the Politburo with a background in state security, Chen was made head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, succeeding Guo Shengkun.[19] John P. Burns, emeritus professor of politics at the University of Hong Kong, said Chen's appointment signaled the party's insecurity both internationally with a more contentious relationship with the US and Europe, and domestically on issues related to Xinjiang, Tibet, and other cities.[19]

In 2023, Chen Wenqing directed CCP committees at all levels to "attach great importance to, concern themselves with, and support covert front work."[25]

Publications

  • Firmly Establish and Practice the Overall National Security Concept and Write a New Chapter of National Security in the New Era, Qiushi, April 2022.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Brazil, Matthew (4 January 2021). "China's Top Spy is a Working Class Hero". SpyTalk. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Lei, Gao (28 November 2021). "国家安全部部长陈文清任中央政法委委员(图/简历)" [Chen Wenqing, Minister of State Security, was appointed as a member of the Central Political and Legal Committee]. China News Service. Beijing. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Guoanbu chief Chen Wenqing protects One Belt One Road". Intelligence Online. 28 February 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ Kong, Feng (8 October 2015). "中央纪委原副书记陈文清任国家安全部党委书记" [Chen Wenqing, former deputy secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, appointed Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of State Security]. China National Radio.
  5. ^ Dill, Catherine (23 September 2015). "The Jinkouhe Gaseous Diffusion Plant is Hot". Arms Control Wonk.
  6. ^ "The Baiyangou bandits in the 1980s: 1516 military police fired 20 rockets and 17,000 bullets". iNews. 28 October 2022.
  7. ^ "Baiyangou suppressed the bandits. In 1988, why did 1,500 soldiers and police be dispatched to round up 2 deserters?". iNews. 28 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b Tengfei, Xu; Wentao, Zhou (7 November 2016). "创多个"最年轻"纪录的陈文清" [Chen Wenqing, who has set multiple "youngest" records]. Toutiao. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  9. ^ a b Chen Wenqing: China's New Man for State Security, Peter Mattis, The National Interest, 23 October 2015
  10. ^ a b c Mattis, Peter L.; Brazil, Matthew J. (2019). Chinese Communist Espionage: An Intelligence Primer. Annapolis: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 9781682473030. LCCN 2019020106.
  11. ^ Shunlong, Yan (3 November 2011). "福建省委副书记陈文清走访调研省内台资企业" [Chen Wenqing, deputy secretary of the Fujian Provincial Party Committee, visited and investigated Taiwan-funded enterprises in the province]. Chinese Central Government. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  12. ^ Matthiessen, Peter (2000). Tigers in the snow. London: Harvill. ISBN 1-86046-677-X. OCLC 42003601.
  13. ^ Jinhong, Lai (24 October 2022). "二十大閉幕…陸國安部長陳文清掌政法委 公安部長王小洪參與港澳" [The 20th National Congress closed... Minister Lu Guoan Chen Wenqing was in charge of the Political and Legal Committee Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong participated in Hong Kong and Macau]. United Daily News (in Chinese). Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  14. ^ Zhiyue, Bo (15 July 2015). "The Rise of China's Nanjing Military Region". The Diplomat. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  15. ^ "Former State Security boss Geng Huichang under scrutiny". Intelligence Online. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h Faligot, Roger (2019). Chinese Spies: From Chairman Mao to Xi Jinping. Translated by Lehrer, Natasha (2nd ed.). London: Hurst & Company. ISBN 9781787380967.
  17. ^ "全国人大任命陈文清为国家安全部部长" [NPC appoints Chen Wenqing as Minister of State Security]. Phoenix TV. Xinhua. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  18. ^ "国家安全部：香港国安法依法治港 坚决贯彻党中央重大决策部署" [Ministry of National Security: Hong Kong National Security Law to govern Hong Kong according to law and resolutely implement major decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee]. Toutiao. 5 July 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  19. ^ a b c Chen, Stella (24 October 2022). "Key party appointments signal Xi Jinping's mission to maintain security". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  20. ^ Charters, Justen; Counter, Jennifer (2 October 2021). "Report: Taliban Leaders Are Meeting at the Chinese Embassy in Afghanistan Daily". Strike Source. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  21. ^ "DG ISI hosts meeting of intelligence chiefs from Iran, Russia, China, Tajikistan". Dunya News. Islamabad. 11 September 2021. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  22. ^ Blanchard, Ben; Kang, Benjamin; Lim, Philip Wen (28 February 2018). "Exclusive: Xi confidant set to become China's new spy master - sources". Reuters. Retrieved 11 October 2022.
  23. ^ "习近平嫡系陈一新任国安部长 亲信陈文清控制"刀把子"政法委" [Chen Yixin, a direct descendant of Xi Jinping, serves as the minister of national security, and Chen Wenqing controls the "knife handle" political and legal committee]. Voice of America (in Chinese). 30 October 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2022.
  24. ^ Zhang, Albee; Woo, Ryan (23 October 2022). "China's new elite Communist Party leadership". Reuters. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  25. ^ "习近平极限思维新发展 强化隐蔽战线". Radio France Internationale (in Simplified Chinese). 15 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
Government offices
Preceded by Minister of State Security
2016–2022 		Succeeded by
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