13 Facts About Wang Dongxing

Wang Dongxing was a Chinese military commander and politician, famous for being the chief of Mao Zedong's personal bodyguard force, the 9th Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

Wang Dongxing was born to a peasant family in Yiyang County, Jiangxi on 9 January 1916.

Wang Dongxing joined the Communist Youth League of China in 1932, and the Chinese Red Army in 1933, at the age of 17.

Wang Dongxing received military and political training at the Pengyang Infantry School and later at the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University.

Wang Dongxing later fought as an infantry officer in the war against Japan, and, after the defeat of the Japanese, in the Chinese Civil War, which led to the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

Mao's continued trust and support led to Wang Dongxing becoming, in 1955, Deputy Minister of Public Security, under Minister Luo Ruiqing.

For "his efforts in public security work", Wang Dongxing was awarded the rank of Major General of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, in 1955.

In June 1958 Mao suddenly demoted Wang Dongxing, sending him to Jiangxi as Director of the Provincial Land Reclamation Department.

From February 1959 to August 1960, Wang Dongxing served as member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party Jiangxi Provincial Committee, and as vice president and Party Secretary of the Communist Labor University of Jiangxi.

In 1966, at the start of the Cultural Revolution, Wang Dongxing was often seen in the great Red Guard rallies, sitting next to Mao's chauffeur in the open-top car from which Mao reviewed his supporters.

Wang Dongxing was instrumental in the coup d'etat against the Gang of Four immediately after Mao's death.

Wang Dongxing was prominent under Chairman Hua Guofeng, being named Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party and one of the five members of the Politburo Standing Committee, a committee whose membership varies between 5 and 11 and includes the top leadership of the Chinese Communist Party.

Wang Dongxing died on 21 August 2015 in Beijing at the age of 99.