HELSINKI — China appears set for a leadership transition at its national space agency, with Zhang Kejian expected to step down after being removed from a top position.
Zhang, 63, who has been head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) since May 2018, is to be removed as Party Secretary of the State Administration for National Defense Science, Technology, and Industry (SASTIND), the agency announced Dec. 26. Shan Zhongde, 54, has been appointed as his replacement.
The leader of SASTIND typically also heads CNSA and the China Atomic Energy Authority, both of which are subordinate agencies to SASTIND. CNSA has yet to announce the expected change.
Shan was earlier this year promoted to one of the vice ministers of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). MIIT is the parent agency of SASTIND. Zhang Keijan is also an MIIT vice minister.
Before this, Shan served as president of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which was sanctioned under the first Trump administration for its ties to China’s military-industrial complex. Shan earned a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Xi’an University of Technology in 1996 and held positions at the China Academy of Machinery Science and Technology.
The head of CNSA oversees the implementation of China’s national space policy and ensures alignment with broader goals, such as technological self-reliance, national security, and global leadership in space, and plays a key role in bilateral and multilateral agreements, including attracting partners for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS).
The administrator also coordinates with key space groups including the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) and China’s human spaceflight agency, CMSEO. The head of CNSA serves as a spokesperson for its achievements and a figurehead for international engagement.
During Zhang’s tenure China has made the first landing on the far side of the moon, collected lunar samples from the near and far sides, landed a rover on Mars, constructed the modular Tiangong space station, completed the Beidou navigation system and initiated a program to put astronauts on the moon by 2030. Zhang was named among the 100 most influential people of 2019 by Time.
Shan is expected to take over as the crewed lunar program progresses and the country continues to attempt to attract countries and other entities to join the ILRS.
It is not clear from the terse announcement what is next for Zhang Kejian. The announcement does not provide any specific reason for Zhang Kejian’s removal. Such changes may be routine, related to reassignment, promotion or retirement, or could indicate underlying issues, such as poor performance, policy disagreements, or investigations.
Previous CNSA heads such as Tang Dengjie, Xu Dazhe and Ma Xingrui have gone on to be promoted to leaders of Chinese provinces or autonomous regions. Meanwhile, two senior officials at the top of CASC, China’s main space contractor, were removed within the last year, following reports of corruption afflicting the People’s Liberation Army.
Zhang was one of the longest-serving CNSA administrators since the agency’s foundation in 1993.
