Wang Dongxing

Wang Dongxing
汪东兴
Wang Dongxing in 1955, as chief of Mao's personal security force
Vice Chairman of the Chinese Communist Party
In office
August 1977 – February 1980
ChairmanHua Guofeng
Personal details
Born(1916-01-09)9 January 1916
Yiyang County, Jiangxi, China
Died21 August 2015(2015-08-21) (aged 99)
Beijing, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party

Wang Dongxing (Chinese: 汪东兴; Wade–Giles: Wang Tung-hsing; 9 January 1916 – 21 August 2015) 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 (which included the 8341 Special Regiment). Wang held many important positions, both in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government; he was Deputy Minister of Public Security in 1955–1958 and again in 1960–1970 and notably served as CCP Vice Chairman from 1977 to 1980, under Chairman Hua Guofeng.

Wang and his trusted security force played a very significant role in ending the Cultural Revolution by arresting the Gang of Four;[1] however, Wang opposed Deng Xiaoping's proposed changes in economic policy, remaining loyal to Hua Guofeng and the continuation of the Maoist political line. As a result, when Deng consolidated power, he removed Wang from his government and Party posts, but did not harm him any further.[1]