Five former aides of current and retired high-ranking communist party leaders have recently been promoted, according to Duowei News, a U.S.-Based Chinese political news outlet.
The first is Zhou Liang, formerly the personal secretary of Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) head Wang Qishan and now the current chief of the organization department of CCDI.
Second is Tian Xuebin, who is now the new vice minister of Water Resources. Tian was formerly the secretary of retired premier Wen Jiabao. He became a member of the State Council Research Office in June 2008 and eventually bagged the deputy chief position in December of the same year.
Coming in at third is the former personal secretary of retired CCDI head Wu Guanzheng (served from 2002--2007) and now the current chief of the Ministry of Water Resources' disciplinary committee, Tian Ye. The latter has worked at the CCDI since 1984.
Fourth is Tian's new deputy Zhang Zhigang, who was recently promoted to the position in January.
Fifth and last of the so-called secretary clique to gain a promotion is Li Zueqin, who is also a former secretary of Wu Guangzheng. Working for the CCDI since 1984, he is now elevated to the position of deputy head of the Eighth Central Inspection Team last January.
Duowei stated that it has become a common occurrence for secretaries to receive important promotions and is no secret from the public.
Observers note that the secretaries clique is another faction within China's communist party, in addition to the Shanghai clique and the Princelings.