Cai Qi has emerged as the second-most powerful man in China after President Xi Jinping, with the senior Communist Party leader increasingly seen as Xi’s closest aide and most trusted political ally. The speculations rose after the tall, white-haired Cai drew renewed international attention on May 14 during Donald Trump’s official visit to China, when he became the first senior Chinese official to shake hands with the US president after Xi.
The debate regarding Cai Qi's handshake with Trump positioned the Communist party leader as Xi's “right-hand man” as it not only reflect the protocol, but also his influence in China's policy and decision making. According to the Economist, Cai is also believed to have access to nearly every major area of policymaking and some of the Communist Party’s most closely guarded secrets.
For a political system as opaque as China’s, where little is publicly known about the internal workings of the Communist Party, figures like Cai offer rare insight into the country’s power structure. His frequent presence at high-level diplomatic engagements has reinforced perceptions of his growing role in the country's affairs.
Earlier, Cai's role in the diplomatic matters of China came into spotlight when he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin last year. He was also present during the previous Xi-Trump meeting in South Korea in 2025, underlining his central role in China's domestic politics and foreign affairs.
Cai's rise in Beijing's political scene raises several questions as Xi Jinping has previously sidelined or purged even his closest allies.
In regards to the position, Cai oversees Xi’s daily schedule, internal communications, document management, security coordination, travel planning, and the organisation of major political meetings and state events.
Xi and Cai's relationship dates back to decades as it is reported that both the leaders had built their political careers in 1980s in the southeastern coastal province of Fujian, the region closest to Taiwan. Notably, Xi spent 17 years working in Fujian beginning in 1985. It was that time that the Chinese President and Cai worked closely together.
Over the years, reports have suggested that Xi promoted several officials with whom he built close ties during his time in Fujian — in fact several analysts often describe them as the "Fujian clique", believed to be an informal network of trusted loyalists within the Communist Party.
Mahima Joshi works as a Chief Copy Editor at Times Now and is part of the India and Breaking Desk. Covering national stories and bringing breaking new...View More
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