Notably, Mao Weiming, Zhang Yuzhuo, and Dai Houliang are all Central Committee alternate members. While SOE managers are no longer included in the 205-member Central Committee as full members, those who are among the 171 alternate members are certainly of a higher political status than their peers not in the Central Committee. Mao’s appointment to the State Grid, as well as Zhang’s appointment to Sinopec and Dai’s appointment to CNPC therefore indicate that these three SOEs are of higher political importance than others.