Two high-ranking officials of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently collapsed while they were at the podium during a conference, causing unrest among those present.
Wang Jiong, chairman of the Chongqing Political Consultative Conference, fainted and fell to the floor while reading a report at the annual meeting of the political advisory body on Jan. 16.
On Jan. 26 last year, Bu Xiaolin, chairwoman of China’s northern Inner Mongolia also passed out while delivering a government report at the region’s people’s congress.
Official Health Issues
The CCP’s central committee is a top leadership body that is elected by the national congress every five years. The 19th central committee was elected in 2017, with 204 full members and 172 alternate members. But in November last year, the CCP’s 19th central committee had 197 full members and 151 alternates attending its sixth session. Those who were absent could be sick, dead, or being investigated.The following are some officials who have passed away due to illnesses.
Wang Yupu was appointed minister of China’s Emergency Management in March 2018. He died of illness on Dec. 8, 2020, two years after he took office, according to the CCP’s mouthpiece Xinhua News Agency. Wang was a full member of the CCP’s 19th central committee.
Guan Qing, former chairman and CCP’s secretary of China State Construction Engineering Corporation, died in Beijing on March 6, 2020, when he was unable to recover from brain cancer. Guan was only 54 when he died. He was an alternate member of the 19th central committee.
Excessive Drinking in CCP Officialdom
The poor health of the CCP’s officials has much to do with their disorderly private life and the corrupt alcoholic culture in the CCP’s officialdom.Excessive drinking of spirits is very popular among CCP officials, and banning orders have been repeatedly issued but have failed time and again, as alcoholic drinks and food are generally paid for with public funding.
The culture of excessive drinking is not only popular among CCP officials but also among its military officers. In recent years, some alcohol-related military fatalities have been made public.
CCP Officials Concealing Health Issues a Major Concern for Xi
It is common for CCP officials to keep any health issues private in order to stay in their current position or seek a promotion.Xi is reportedly furious over this issue.
“Some comrades do not report it, even when they have serious illnesses, hiding them from everyone and eventually become critically ill without the organization [the CCP] knowing it,” Xi blasted during a top disciplinary meeting in 2016. He did not name any particular official.
But concealment of poor health among the CCP’s military commanders could be a more serious issue for Xi.
Zhang Xudong was appointed general in December 2020 to oversee China’s Western Theater Command. He passed away in October 2021 at the age of 58. Zhang’s successor is also reportedly suffering from cancer and returned to Beijing after being commander for only two months.
A disaster faces Xi and the CCP if their senior military officers are seriously ill when leading the army to fight—they will only lead the army with them to the graveyard.
Under such circumstance, Xi should consider the competence and loyalty of two of his cronies, Chen Xi and Zhong Shaojun, who are in charge of promoting CCP officials and officers, respectively.