Chen Wu, China's CPPCC Vice Chairman, dies at 72

Chen Wu, a vice chairman of China's National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has died in Beijing at the age of 72. The official Xinhua news agency reported his passing on Monday, describing him as an "excellent member of the Communist Party of China, a loyal communist fighter, and an outstanding leader in China's work on ethnic affairs and economic construction."

His death comes after he had missed multiple high-profile meetings this year, sparking attention. Notably, he was absent from the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC's 14th Standing Committee meeting on November 1, 2025, and subsequent key sessions in 2026, including the opening of the 14th National Committee's fourth session and a ceremony commemorating the centenary of Jiang Zemin's birth. His absence, alongside that of Ma Xingrui, then a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, at the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee had drawn particular notice. Ma Xingrui was later investigated and expelled for serious violations of discipline and law in July.

Chen Wu, born in November 1954, was from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and spent much of his career there. He served as deputy secretary of the Guangxi regional party committee and chairman from 2013 until his retirement from regional duties in 2020. He then transitioned to a role as vice chairman of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress before becoming a vice chairman of the CPPCC in 2023.