Wang Xiaohong Denies Rumours, Skips Vietnam Security Meeting

Cai Qi and Wang Xiaohong serve as Xi Jinping&9;s gatekeepers. (Composite image)

[People News] Amid rampant online rumours regarding Wang Xiaohong's situation, he unexpectedly surfaced, strongly suggesting a denial of these rumours, yet the circumstances remain quite strange.

On April 14, 2026, Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam, visited China. The following day, Xinhua News Agency published a headline report titled 'Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of Vietnam,' which noted at the end, 'Cai Qi, Wang Yi, Yin Li, Wang Xiaohong, and others participated in related activities.' In the accompanying image, Wang Xiaohong's side profile is faintly visible, indicating his attendance at the talks. However, during the evening news broadcast on April 15, Wang Xiaohong was only seen in the group photo of the Chinese delegation, positioned to the right of Cai Qi and Wang Yi.

On the same day, the party media outlet Xinhua Net released a report titled 'Chen Wenqing Meets with Le Minh Khai, Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Minister of Public Security,' stating that Chen Wenqing, a member of the Central Politburo and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, met with Le Minh Khai in Beijing on the 14th. The report quoted Chen Wenqing's remarks, emphasising the implementation of the consensus reached by the top leaders of both countries and the deepening of law enforcement and security cooperation, yet it made no mention of Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong.

This was intended to be a high-level meeting between counterparts in the public security system. Although Wang Xiaohong is not a member of the Politburo, as a member of the Central Secretariat, State Councillor, member of the State Council Party Group, Minister of Public Security, Party Secretary, and Deputy Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, he should have been the most direct counterpart for Le Minh Khai. At the very least, he should have accompanied Chen Wenqing to the meeting, yet he was completely absent from the meeting activities. The information surrounding this situation is unusual and filled with intrigue.

Wang Xiaohong's recent appearance is noteworthy as it marks his first public sighting after a 28-day absence following his participation in the inaugural ministerial-level meeting of the China-Vietnam diplomatic, defence, and public security '3+3' strategic dialogue mechanism in Hanoi on March 17. This low-key appearance is heavily suggestive of an effort to dispel rumours. During this 28-day period, official media reported no public activities, speeches, research, or meetings involving Wang Xiaohong.

Since April 8, overseas networks have been rife with claims that Wang Xiaohong was taken away upon his return to Beijing from Vietnam, sparking significant public discourse. The rumours surrounding Wang Xiaohong's situation are closely linked to the arrest of Zhang Youxia, the recent downfall of Ma Xingrui, and the investigations into Li Ganjie.

Examining Wang Xiaohong's career, he can be seen as a key ally of Xi Jinping. His unique status as a 'former subordinate from Fujian + personal aide + enforcer' ensures that his political trajectory and fate are intricately tied to Xi Jinping.

Born in July 1957 in Fuzhou, Fujian, Wang Xiaohong began his career in 1974 and joined the Communist Party in 1982, dedicating many years to the Fujian public security system. From 1990 to 1996, during Xi Jinping's tenure as Secretary of the Fuzhou Municipal Committee, Wang Xiaohong held various roles, including Director of the Minhou County Public Security Bureau, Deputy Director, Director, and Party Secretary of the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau, as well as Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Committee's Political and Legal Affairs Commission. In August 1993, Xi Jinping directly promoted the then 36-year-old Wang Xiaohong to Deputy Director of the Fuzhou Public Security Bureau, and the two worked closely together for over a decade, with their relationship extending well beyond that of a typical superior and subordinate.

On a personal level, despite Xi Jinping's inherently suspicious nature, he has placed his life and assets in the hands of Wang Xiaohong. While Peng Liyuan has been working or performing in Beijing for an extended period, Wang Xiaohong has been responsible for the security of Xi Jinping's family. During Xi Mingze's childhood, Xi Jinping often left her in Wang Xiaohong's home during his business trips, where she was cared for by Wang's wife. This type of 'entrustment' is exceptionally rare among the senior leadership of the Communist Party of China. Following Xi Jinping's rise to power in 2012, Wang Xiaohong's career took off dramatically; in 2013, at the age of 56, he was appointed as assistant to the governor and director of the Provincial Public Security Department in Henan; in 2015, he was transferred to become vice mayor of Beijing and director of the Beijing Public Security Bureau; in 2016, he was named deputy minister of the Ministry of Public Security (at ministerial level); in 2018, he was appointed deputy secretary of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security, overseeing daily operations; after the 20th National Congress in 2022, he became a member of the Central Secretariat, State Councilor, Minister of Public Security, Party Secretary, and deputy secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission, holding the rank of General Inspector, and notably also serving as Party Secretary and Director of the Special Police Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security.

Wang Xiaohong is a key member of the 'Minjiang New Army' and is seen as Xi Jinping's most loyal aide, assisting him with many difficult tasks. He oversees the Special Police Bureau, which manages national public security and monitors leaders at the vice-ministerial level and above, wielding actual power that surpasses that of his direct superior, Chen Wenqing. On January 24, the Communist Party officially announced the arrest of Zhang Youxia, and there are rumours that Wang Xiaohong's Special Police Bureau played a crucial role in this event.

After returning to Beijing from a visit to Vietnam on March 18, Wang Xiaohong went missing for nearly a month, prompting a wave of speculation abroad, with four main narratives emerging:

Firstly, Wang Xiaohong has become a scapegoat for Xi Jinping's unlawful arrest of Zhang Youxia. In January 2026, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Zhang Youxia and Military Commission member Liu Zhenli were ousted, with various reports indicating that the Special Police Bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, under Wang Xiaohong's control, was directly involved in the arrest operation. Xi Jinping bypassed the Politburo meeting, the Military Commission, and the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection to arrest Zhang Youxia, a Politburo member and the military's most powerful figure, which triggered a backlash from the military and caused political turmoil. The military leadership has yet to express support for Xi Jinping's actions, and the National People's Congress has not revoked the national representative qualifications of Zhang and Liu. Recently, there have been rumors that factions within the military, the second generation of red elites, and elder statesmen are demanding Wang Xiaohong's surrender. Faced with no other option, Xi Jinping compromised, and Wang Xiaohong quickly shifted from being a hero to a scapegoat, becoming a sacrificial pawn for Xi Jinping's self-preservation.

In the second version, the most loyal can also be the most dangerous. Wang Xiaohong is a prominent figure from Xi Jinping's old faction in Fujian and a symbolic leader of the Minjiang New Army, overseeing public security and the Special Police Bureau. He serves as Xi Jinping's personal bodyguard, controlling the national security apparatus and Xi's personal protection. Not only has he carried out numerous dirty tasks for Xi Jinping, but he also possesses many of Xi's hidden secrets. Wang Xiaohong is well aware of the Xi family's secrets and the dark undercurrents behind Xi's various purges, making him a significant source of concern for Xi. It is rumoured that Wang Xiaohong understands that serving a ruler is akin to serving a tiger, and to protect himself, he has gathered compromising materials on Xi Jinping, similar to how Wang Lijun turned against Bo Xilai. To avoid the mistakes made with Bo Xilai, Xi Jinping took preemptive action to control Wang Xiaohong first.

The third version discusses the anti-corruption boomerang effect. Wang Xiaohong, the head of the public security system, has seen many of his former subordinates purged, including several vice ministers and trusted aides who have been reassigned or dismissed, resulting in his power being marginalised. There are also rumours linking him to the case involving Ma Xingrui, a leader of the harem faction. Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign was initially aimed at establishing authority and eliminating rivals, but it has instead revealed deeper issues, with trusted aides continuously encountering problems, and now Wang Xiaohong has also been affected. This indicates that the power struggle within Zhongnanhai has escalated to a point where even insiders are turning against one another.

The fourth version suggests that there were previous rumours about Wang Xiaohong's health deteriorating, indicating he might soon step down as Minister of Public Security.

These four major narratives have recently gained significant traction online. Wang Xiaohong's sudden low-profile appearance after nearly a month of absence likely serves as a public response to these rumours. While he has resurfaced, this does not guarantee his safety. The opaque politics within the upper echelons of the Chinese Communist Party have never been characterised by fair power distribution and transitions in the open; rather, they involve brutal struggles behind closed doors. Wang Xiaohong's journey from being the top bodyguard to disappearing without a trace illustrates that, in Xi Jinping's view, everyone is merely a tool. The most loyal and dedicated servants ultimately face the tragic fate of being discarded as sacrifices. Loyalty is a double-edged sword; it can earn Xi Jinping's trust and high positions, but it also poses significant risks for those who know too much. The tyrant's preferred method of control is to eliminate those who have outlived their usefulness. However, one could argue that this is simply the consequence of Wang Xiaohong's many wrongdoings catching up with him.

(First published by People News) △