The Xi Jinping faction (), also referred to as the Xi Clan (), is a term used by political analysts to describe a network of officials within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) closely associated with General Secretary Xi Jinping. The faction encompasses officials who advanced their political careers under Xi's patronage during his earlier leadership tenures in various provinces. Those who served under Xi during his time as Party Secretary of Zhejiang (2002âÂÂ2007) are often referred to as the New Zhijiang Army (), while those with prior affiliations to Xi from his period in Fujian are collectively known as the Fujian clique.
The "new army" refers to people who were closely associated with Xi during his tenure in Zhejiang and identify with his political views, and who have since then taken on prominent political posts at the provincial level or in central party and state organs. The term was first widely used by Ma Haoliang (), editor at Hong Kong-based newspaper Ta Kung Pao, in the article "New Zhijiang Army of Chinese Politics". The term Zhijiang refers to the Qiantang River, which runs through the province, but is often used as a poetic reference for the greater Zhejiang region. The term was initially used as title to Xi Jinping's book Zhijiang Xinyu (), a book compiling the political philosophies of Xi Jinping during his five-year term as party chief of Zhejiang, published in 2007.
The Fujian clique refers to a group of Chinese politicians closely allied with Xi, who developed this network of trusted allies during his time in Fujian from 1985 to 2002, and has appointed them to influential roles and positions within Chinese politics since he became leader of China, particularly within the military and police. The Fujian clique is one of the two most important political groupings in the Xi administration alongside the New Zhijiang Army.
Other politicians have been named by Chinese-language media as associates of Xi Jinping. They have known or worked under him as a result of their regional tenures in Shaanxi province (Xi's "home province"), the southeast (Zhejiang and Fujian provinces), or through Tsinghua University, where Xi spent time in his youth. Those named include Wang Qishan, Li Zhanshu, Liu He, Chen Xi, He Yiting, Wang Xiaohong, Li Shulei, and Huang Xingguo (since disgraced). In the military, Liu Yuan, Zhang Youxia, and Liu Yazhou have been named as some of Xi's top associates.