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White House Reveals Secretive Chinese Official Close to Xi Jinping
M
Moneycontrol•30-09-2026, 13:59
White House Reveals Secretive Chinese Official Close to Xi Jinping
- •Zhou Hongxu, a highly secretive Chinese security official, was publicly identified by the White House as director of China’s Central Guard Bureau and deputy director of the Communist Party’s General Office.
- •The Central Guard Bureau is responsible for protecting China’s top leaders and the Zhongnanhai compound, a role previously unconfirmed publicly by Beijing for Zhou.
- •Zhou, a 55-year-old PLA major general, has frequently appeared alongside Xi Jinping at major international events, including the G20 summit and APEC meetings.
- •His prominent diplomatic appearances are unusual for a senior Chinese security official, suggesting Xi may be intentionally bringing him into the public eye for greater responsibilities.
- •Zhou's rise comes as attention focuses on China's next major Communist Party leadership reshuffle, scheduled for October next year.
Key Questions Answered
Zhou Hongxu's official role was identified after the White House listed him by name and position as the director of China's Central Guard Bureau at a state banquet hosted for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The Central Guard Bureau is responsible for protecting China's top leaders and the Zhongnanhai compound in Beijing, where the country's leadership resides.
Zhou Hongxu assumed the helm of the Central Guard Bureau around 2021, succeeding Wang Shaojun.
