China’s tobacco regulator has undergone a top leadership change, according to an official announcement on March 20.
2Firsts，March 20，2026
China’s tobacco regulator has undergone a top leadership change, according to an official announcement on March 20.
Yao Laiying has been appointed to the top Party role at the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration, replacing Zhang Jianmin. In China’s governance system, such a personnel change typically also leads to a corresponding change in the agency’s top government post.
Yao, born in December 1966, is currently a deputy head of the State Taxation Administration. He previously held senior finance posts in Tianjin and served as vice mayor of the city.
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