Wang Chunning (王春宁), commander of China’s People’s Armed Police (PAP), has been absent from public view since late last year and is rumored to be under investigation.
On July 21, the 15th National Commendation Conference for Heroes and Role Models of Courageous Acts was held in Beijing. According to reports from Legal Daily and Procuratorial Daily the following day, Cao Junzhang (曹均章), serving as the acting commander of the PAP, attended the event in an official capacity.
Born in 1965 and holding the rank of lieutenant general, Cao has had a long military career in the former Chengdu Military Region. His previous roles include Director of the Operations Department, Commander of a division within the Army’s 13th Group Army, Deputy Commander of that army, and later Deputy Commander of the 76th Group Army.
Political analysts believe the current shift in leadership signals that the PAP remains firmly under the influence of Zhang Youxia, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Cao’s background links him to Zhang, as the 13th Group Army had long been under Zhang’s command. Another deputy commander of the PAP, Fu Wenhua (付文化), also hails from the 16th Group Army in the Shenyang Military Region – Zhang’s power base.
The PAP plays a critical role in China’s internal security structure and is frequently deployed to suppress public dissent.
Source: Epoch Times, July 24, 2025
https://www.epochtimes.com/gb/25/7/24/n14559438.htm