Mao Xinyu

Mao Xinyu (born 17 January 1970)^[1] is a grandson of Mao Zedong.

Career

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. Among the several books he has written is Grandfather Mao Zedong (Yeye Mao Zedong), published by the National Defence University Press in October 2003.^[2]

Mao won promotion to the rank of major general in the People's Liberation Army in June 2009, in a controversial move. According to the Changjiang Daily, Mao is now the youngest general in the PLA.^[3]

Following his promotion to general, Mao was severely criticized by opponents of the communist regime. 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. "Those promoted in the future as generals should feel humiliated by this," he continued.^[4] “This is a natural elevation. Mao's many achievements earned him the right to be promoted,” said Bao Goujun, a spokesman for the Academy of Military Sciences.^[5]

He is also a member of the Beijing Chinese People's Consultative Conference National Committee, an advisory group to the central government.^[6]

In September 2011 he took up a teaching position at Guangzhou University, teaching Mao Zedong Thought at Songtian Professional College.^[7]

Family

His father, Mao Anqing (1923–2007), was a child of Mao's marriage with Yang Kaihui (杨开慧, 1901–1930). Anqing served as a Russian-Chinese interpreter for the Chinese Communist Party until he became disabled by schizophrenia.^[8] His mother, Chairman Mao's daughter-in-law, was Shao Hua (邵华).

Mao Xinyu has married twice. His first wife was Hao Mingli (郝明莉), and with whom he had no children. Mao loved the beautiful waitress at the first sight.^[9] The wedding ceremony was held at 16:00, 7 December 1997, but Hao died in 2003 at Qincheng Prison,^[10] a prison famous for political inmates. 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).

Mao has described his grandfather, Mao Zedong as a "god" and "perfect man".^[11]

References