Xi Jinping Appoints Top Aide Cai Qi to Lead Party Commission Overseeing China's Internet
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Xi Jinping appointed his chief of staff, Cai Qi, as the new head of the Communist Party's Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, which oversees cybersecurity and the internet in China.
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Cai will now oversee China's $6.9 trillion digital economy. Xi previously held this position himself since 2014.
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This appointment shows Xi delegating more responsibilities to trusted deputies, as Cai is #5 in the Politburo Standing Committee and the first chief of staff to hold both roles since Mao.
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The move suggests Xi is forming a close-knit power center with Premier Li Qiang and Cai Qi overseeing key government and party functions.
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As Beijing party secretary, Cai oversaw propaganda, suggesting good overlap with his new cyber affairs role focused on spreading party messages online.