Overview

• Shi Taifeng, 68, has been reassigned as head of the Organisation Department, while Li Ganjie, 60, takes over the United Front Work Department.
• This marks the first-ever job swap between Politburo members, a significant deviation from historical norms in China's Communist Party.
• State media provided no explanation for the reshuffle, which analysts interpret as a reflection of Xi Jinping's dissatisfaction with the Organisation Department's performance.
• Shi is a close ally of Xi Jinping with extensive experience in governance and academia, while Li, a rising technocrat, has a background in nuclear safety and rapid career advancement.
• The move occurs during a period of political instability, following leadership purges and investigations into senior officials over the past two years.