Lin Tao
A rising star in Fujian along with his superior Guo Ningning, he was brought in to replace Cui Yonghui (another 1970s generation leader), suggesting that he is seen as Cui’s replacement. Also possesses significant experience in the State Council and Guangdong.
Secretary of Xiamen City, Member of the Standing Committee of Fujian Province (2026 - Present); Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council (2024 - 2026); Vice Governor of Guangdong (2023 - 2024); Secretary of Heyuan City (2021 - 2023); Deputy Secretary/Mayor of Heyuan (2019 - 2021)
Titles Held
Born in 1971 in Guangdong. Graduated with a degree in English from the Guangzhou Foreign Languages Institute and a PhD in Laws (International Relations) from Jinan University. After graduating, he remained in Guangdong working in foreign affairs, news and business. He then took on various roles in the city government of Jieyang (a small city in Guangdong) before he was promoted to the Guangdong government’s division related to Hong Kong and Macao Affairs. In 2011, he was promoted to the standing committee of Shanwei, another city in Guangdong. In 2015, he became Executive Vice Mayor of Shanwei. In 2016, he was promoted again to Chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and in 2019 he became Deputy Secretary and Mayor of Heyuan in Guangdong. In 2023, he was elevated to Vice Governor of the entire province. However, in 2024, he was transferred to Beijing to serve as the Deputy Secretary-General of the State Council, which serves as China’s executive branch. Finally, in 2026 he was “parachuted” into Xiamen, a special economic zone, to take over the Secretary role from Cui Yonghui. Cui was removed for unexplained reasons despite remaining on the provincial committee, and it is possible Lin may take Cui’s place as an alternate member of the Central Committee in 2027.
Biography
Like Liu Xiaotao, he can be compared to other current or former Guangdong leaders like Li Xi and Huang Kunming. He can also be compared to Xi Jinping, who served as Vice Mayor of Xiamen before being promoted to Governor of Fujian. Wang Yang is another former Guangdong Secretary who became the Vice Premier of China and a PSC member before effectively retiring in 2022.