Jin Zhuanglong, China’s minister of industry and information technology, has not been seen in public for two months, according to a report by the Financial Times, fueling speculation about his status within the Chinese government.
On Friday, the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced that Li Lecheng was the department’s new chief, and Jin had been removed.
Jin’s absence follows a series of high-profile disappearances among senior officials, a pattern that has raised concerns about transparency within Beijing’s leadership.
Sean Gallup/Getty Images/Chinese government
Why It Matters
Jin’s removal from his post comes at a critical time for China’s technology sector, which is facing increased scrutiny from both domestic regulators and international rivals. As China attempts to assert dominance in semiconductor production and artificial intelligence, the unexplained disappearance of its top tech official foments uncertainty about Beijing’s broader policy direction.
Jin has been absent from government meetings and official events since December 2024, the Financial Times said. This absence has led to speculation about whether he is under investigation for corruption or internal misconduct, an issue that has led to the sudden removal of several Chinese officials in recent years.
What to Know
China’s government has not provided any official explanation for Jin’s removal or his disappearance from public.
Similar disappearances have occurred before. Former Foreign Minister Qin Gang was removed from his position in 2023 after a prolonged absence, reportedly due to an alleged affair that was seen as a security risk, according to The Washington Post. Defense Minister Li Shangfu also disappeared and was later officially dismissed.
Jin was appointed as the head of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) in 2022 and played a key role in China’s push for self-reliance in semiconductor manufacturing. His disappearance, if linked to an investigation, would signal a continued anti-corruption crackdown within China’s political and business elite led by President Xi Jinping.
What People Are Saying
So far, Chinese officials have remained silent on Jin’s whereabouts, and independent sources have not been able to confirm if he is under investigation.
The full statement from the ministry said: “On the afternoon of February 28, 2025, the relevant responsible comrades of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee attended the meeting of leading cadres of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and announced the decision of the Central Committee: Comrade Li Lecheng was appointed Secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Comrade Jin Zhuanglong was removed from the post of Secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.”
Yeling Tan, a professor at Oxford university’s Blavatnik School of Government, told the Financial Times: “The focus on party discipline and party loyalty has sent a chill through the system and led to risk aversion. It is safer to not be proactive.”
What Happens Next
China’s tech industry remains under pressure as U.S. export restrictions limit access to advanced semiconductor technology.
Whether Jin’s disappearance is connected to broader economic struggles or internal political disputes, his absence adds another layer of uncertainty to China’s already tense business and technology environment.
