Mao Xinyu

Mao Xinyu (born 17 January 1970)[1] is a grandson of Mao Zedong and a Major General in the People's Liberation Army.

Mao Xinyu
毛新宇
Personal details
Born (1970-01-17) 17 January 1970
Beijing, China
Political partyCommunist Party of China
Spouse(s)Hao Mingli (郝明莉)
Liu Bin (刘滨)
Children2
ParentsMao Anqing
Shao Hua
Alma materRenmin University of China
Central Party School of the Communist Party of China
People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences
ProfessionHistorian
Military service
Allegiance China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Rank Major General
(Shaojiang, 少将)
Mao Xinyu
Chinese毛新宇

Early life and education

Mao Xinyu graduated from the History Department of Renmin University of China in 1992. He works as a researcher at the People's Liberation Army Academy of Military Sciences, where he completed his doctorate. Born the son of Mao Anqing, he is one of Mao Zedong's twelve grandchildren.[2]

Career

Mao has written several books, including Grandfather Mao Zedong (Yeye Mao Zedong), published by the National Defence University Press in October 2003.[3]

In June 2009, Mao won promotion to the rank of major general in the People's Liberation Army in a controversial move. According to the Changjiang Daily, Mao is now the youngest general in the PLA.[4] Some critics described his promotion as nepotism. "To have such an unqualified person become a general in China's military, it's an insult to the People's Liberation Army," said Pu Zhiqiang, a lawyer and human rights activist.[5] By contrast, Bao Goujin, a spokesman for the Academy of Military Sciences, said "his is a natural elevation. Mao's many achievements earned him the right to be promoted."[6] Mao's own view is that "family factors" contributed to his promotion.[7]

Mao is also a member of the Chinese National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, an advisory group to the central government.[8]

In September 2011, Mao took up a teaching position at Guangzhou University, teaching Mao Zedong Thought at Songtian Professional College.

Family

Mao's father, Mao Anqing (1923–2007), was a child of Mao's marriage with Yang Kaihui. Anqing served as a RussianChinese interpreter for the Chinese Communist Party until he became disabled by schizophrenia.[9] His mother, Chairman Mao's daughter-in-law, was Shao Hua (邵华).

Mao is said to have loved the beautiful waitress Hao Mingli at first sight.[10] The wedding ceremony was held at 16:00 on 7 December 1997, but Hao died in 2003 at Qincheng Prison,[11] an institution well known for its political prisoners. Mao Xinyu remarried in 2003 to Liu Bin (刘滨), who was from Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province and whom he had met in 2000. Mao Xinyu and Liu Bin have one son, Mao Dongdong (毛东东, born 2003), as well as one daughter, Mao Tianyi (毛甜懿, born 2008).

In 2013, discussing his grandfather, he said that Mao Zedong had been "put on an altar" but "only by transforming them back into real people can they be understood and accepted by the public, who will then want to learn from them."[12]

References

  1. "Mao Xinyu: Heir to the Chairman? Please sit down". Want China Times. Archived from the original on 20 June 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  2. Mao Zedong grandchildren
  3. "Family Cherish the Chairman". China.org.cn. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  4. "Mao grandson earns stripes". The Standard. Associated Press. 23 September 2009.
  5. Mao's grandson, promoted to major general, faces ridicule, by John M. Glionna, Los Angeles Times, 4 August 2010
  6. Chairman Mao’s grandson Mao Xinyu is China's youngest general Archived 14 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine, London Evening Standard, 2 August 2010
  7. 毛新宇:晉陞少將有家庭因素 Archived 22 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine (Mao Xinyu: there are family factors in promotion to Major General)
  8. Asahi Shimbun, "Mao Tse-Tung's Grandson Rises Up Ranks of PLA", 5 August 2010.
  9. More about Mao, from his grandson, Tapei Times, 15 January 2004
  10. "Mao Xinyu's love story with his ex-wife Hao Mingli". News.163.com. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  11. "毛新宇与郝明莉离婚 毛新宇的第一次婚姻(组图)-毛新宇与郝明莉离婚,-城市周刊". Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  12. "Cult of Mao should be reassessed, says grandson". Telegraph.co.uk. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
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