Former Chinese Ambassador to the US Unexpectedly Makes China’s Elite Politburo

Jiang Zemin loyalist, Yang Jiechi, was involved in spreading a Chinese Communist Party hate campaign on US soil

Yang Jiechi (R) during a meeting at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 18, 2017. Yang was promoted to the 25-member Politburo after the 19th National Congress. Lintao Zhang/Pool/Getty Images

Since the 19th National Congress concluded, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been placing his allies in the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) top posts in different departments and ministries.

However, one official who has been loyal to the faction headed by former Party boss Jiang Zemin unexpectedly joined the regime’s most powerful figures when he was promoted to the 25-member Politburo. The appointment of diplomat Yang Jiechi may signal the continued strength of the Jiang faction in the foreign ministry, or may be due to Yang switching his loyalty to Xi’s camp.