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Yuanyue Dang

Wu Bangguo, the former head of China’s top legislature, died in Beijing on Tuesday morning at the age of 83, state news agency Xinhua reported.
An official obituary published by Xinhua described Wu as an “outstanding leader” of the Communist Party and the state, adding that his death was a “huge loss”.
Wu was one of China’s most powerful men between 2002 and 2012, serving as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature, and the second-ranking member of the party.
Wu was also the second-ranking member of the Politburo Standing Committee, China’s top decision-making body, alongside former president Hu Jintao and former premier Wen Jiabao, who ranked third.
Wu was best remembered for his strong opposition to the Western political system.
At an NPC seminar in 2011, Wu identified five political arrangements that China “cannot implement”: a multiparty system, pluralistic ideologies, federalism, privatisation, and the separation of powers and bicameralism.
Wu reiterated this to lawmakers in his annual work report at the NPC session that year. Before leaving office in 2013, he insisted that “we will absolutely not copy models in the Western political system”.
The obituary said Wu stressed the principle that “the work of the National People’s Congress must adhere to the leadership of the party”.
One of Wu’s major achievements during his tenure as top legislator was presiding over the revision of the Anti-Secession Law, according to Xinhua.
The 2005 Anti-Secession Law provides a legal framework that specifies conditions under which Beijing said it would use “non-peaceful means” for the reunification of Taiwan. However, Beijing remains ambiguous about when and under what circumstances the law would be invoked.
Most countries, including the United States, do not recognise Taiwan as an independent state, but Washington is opposed to any move to take the island by force and is committed to providing arms for its defence.
While serving as NPC chief, Wu had frequent interactions with Nancy Pelosi, then speaker of the US House of Representatives. This included hosting Pelosi during her visit to Beijing and meeting her during a visit to the US.

Wu started his political career in Shanghai, where he worked for decades after graduating from Tsinghua University in Beijing in 1967 with a degree in radio engineering.
From 1991, Wu served for three years as Shanghai’s party secretary – the top man in China’s financial hub – until he was promoted to the party leadership as a member of the Central Committee Secretariat.
Wu was among a handful of Shanghai officials promoted to central agencies under former president Jiang Zemin, who served as Shanghai party chief from 1987 to 1989.
Wu had been absent from several events attended by party elders in recent years, including the 20th party congress in 2022 and a concert late last month to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic.
Wu was considered the main Shanghai official responsible for the early development of the city’s Pudong New Area. The decision to develop the area was seen as key to the rapid growth of China’s most populous city after 1990.
The official obituary said Wu fulfilled the vision of former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping by implementing the “strategic decision” to develop Pudong. Wu’s work “helped Shanghai to create a new situation of all-round opening up, both at home and abroad”, according to Xinhua.
Wu also served as vice-premier from 1995 to 2002. The official obituary praised him for promoting the reform of state-owned enterprises and his role in the construction of “major infrastructure projects” such as the Three Gorges Dam.
After retiring in 2013, Wu “resolutely supported” President Xi Jinping’s leadership and his fight against corruption, and “carefully studied Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era”, according to Xinhua.
Wu’s son, Wu Lei, is chairman and party secretary of Shanghai Electric, a state-owned enterprise that manufactures large industrial equipment.


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Wu Bangguo, formerly China’s No 2 official, dies at age 83

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China

Politics

Once one of China’s most powerful men, Wu is best remembered for his strong opposition to the Western political system


Once one of China’s most powerful men, Wu is best remembered for his strong opposition to the Western political system.


Obituaries