Wang Chen (; born 2 December 1950) is a Chinese journalist and politician, currently serving as the first-ranked Vice Chairperson of the

Standing Committee A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...

of the 13th National People's Congress. He was a member of the 19th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party. He served as Director of

State Council Information Office The State Council Information Office (SCIO; ) is the chief information office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. In 2014, SCIO was absorbed into the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Histor ...

from 2008 to 2013 and as the

Secretary-General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

of the 12th National People's Congress

from 2013 to 2018.

Career

Wang was born in

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

in 1950. He served in '' Guangming Daily'' Agency for many years, and became the editor in chief of that newspaper in 1995. In June 2000 he was appointed as Deputy Director of Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In August 2001, he became the Editor in Chief of ''

People's Daily The ''People's Daily'' () is the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The newspaper provides direct information on the policies and viewpoints of the CCP. In addition to its main Chinese-language ...

''. In October of same year, he became vice chairman of China National Journalist Association. He was promoted to president of ''People's Daily'' Agency. In March 2003, he became the chairman of Chinese Newspapers Association. From 2008 to 2013, he served as Director of the

Information Office of the State Council The State Council Information Office (SCIO; ) is the chief information office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China. In 2014, SCIO was absorbed into the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Histor ...

. He was appointed Director of the newly created State Internet Information Office under the Information Office in May 2011. He is a member of the 19th

CCP Politburo The Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, formally known as the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and known as the Central Bureau before 1927, is the decision-making body of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). ...

. He was also a member of the 16th, 17th and 18th CCP Central Committees, and a member of the 9th National Committee of the

Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC, zh, 中国人民政治协商会议), also known as the People's PCC (, ) or simply the PCC (), is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China and a central part of ...

(CPPCC).

U.S. sanctions

On December 7, 2020, the

U.S. Department of the Treasury The Department of the Treasury (USDT) is the national treasury and finance department of the federal government of the United States, where it serves as an executive department. The department oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and t ...

imposed sanctions on the entire body of 14

Vice Chairpersons of the National People's Congress A vice is a practice, behaviour, or habit generally considered immoral, sinful, criminal, rude, taboo, depraved, degrading, deviant or perverted in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character tr ...

of China, including Wang Chen, for "undermining Hong Kong's autonomy and restricting the freedom of expression or assembly." Despite these sanctions, the American Chamber of Commerce in China hosted Wang at its annual appreciation dinner on December 10, 2020, which stirred controversy and criticism in the U.S.

References

1950 births Living people People's Republic of China politicians from Beijing Chinese Communist Party politicians from Beijing People's Republic of China journalists Members of the 19th Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party Vice Chairpersons of the National People's Congress People's Daily people Guangming Daily people Individuals sanctioned by the United States under the Hong Kong Autonomy Act Chinese individuals subject to U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctions {{China-politician-stub