China has appointed Chen Yixin as State Security Minister, replacing Chen Wenqing, who was promoted to oversee police, legal affairs and intelligence, the National People’s Congress or the Parliament.
Chen Yixin, who was elected to the Communist Party Central Committee at its five-year congress this month, had been in charge of a campaign in recent years to purge corrupt law and security officials.
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Chen Wenqing, who was elevated to the Politburo of the Communist Party, has been appointed party secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, China’s top security post overseeing police, judges and spies.
Chen Wenqing’s promotion marked the first time a spy chief had been tapped to fill the top security post, which had typically been held by a former minister of public security.
Analysts said this reflects the bigger role intelligence is likely to play in China’s security during President Xi Jinping’s third term.
Xi emphasized China’s national security in a report to Congress this month.
