Du Shangze appointed People's Daily deputy editor-in-chief

Du Shangze, born in 1981, has been appointed as the deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily, making her the first official from the ‘post-80s’ generation to reach the deputy ministerial level. Her rapid ascent has drawn scrutiny due to her lack of local governance or grassroots administrative experience. Observers note her career has been closely tied to her reporting on Xi Jinping, including her role in popularizing the term ‘Xi Dada’ and winning prestigious national news awards for articles praising the leadership.

Simultaneously, official state media has begun publishing critiques of younger officials. Recent articles in People's Daily have criticized young cadres for being overly focused on short-term achievements and lacking practical experience. Analysts suggest this trend of criticizing youth and the increasing average age of provincial and central leadership may be a strategic move to prevent potential political rivals from rising, as the leadership structure becomes increasingly aged under current policies.