Chen Xiaolu

Chen Xiaolu (; 30 July 1946 – 28 February 2018) was a Chinese military officer and businessman. As a son of Marshal Chen Yi, he was one of China's most prominent princelings, or children of high officials.

After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War and the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Chen Yi served as Mayor of Shanghai and Commander of the East China Military Region, and Xiaolu spent his early school years in Nanjing and Shanghai.

When more radical groups began to attack Communist Party leaders, Chen organized the "Beijing Xicheng District Red Guard Picket Corps" to defend the leaders such as his father. When Chen Yi, then serving as Foreign Minister of China, criticized the chaos of the Cultural Revolution, Mao Zedong sidelined him and the Red Guards occupied the Foreign Ministry. Premier Zhou Enlai sent Chen Xiaolu to the army for his safety.

Chen's public apology made headlines nationwide and caused much online debate over the Cultural Revolution. Many praised him, but others criticized him for "picking over old wounds". Historian Xu Youyu considers his apology "very unusual", as former Red Guards generally describe themselves as victims of the Cultural Revolution and de-emphasize their own wrongdoings. Chen has been called the "conscience" of princelings.

Career After the Cultural Revolution, Chen worked for a few years as an assistant defence attaché in the Chinese embassy in London, before returning to China in 1985. He subsequently worked for the liberal Central Office for Political Structure Reform under Bao Tong, assistant to the reformist leader Zhao Ziyang, and called for the establishment of independent workers' unions. The proposed political reforms were aborted after the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989 and the subsequent crackdown. Chen, then with the rank of colonel, left the government and the military in 1992.

Chen started his own business after leaving the government, and his princeling status and military background helped his businesses expand to "staggering" sizes. He was an early director of Anbang, founded by Wu Xiaohui, which became a successful car dealership and insurance company and bought the Waldorf Astoria New York Hotel in 2014. However, Chen said he was merely an advisor and not a shareholder.

Personal life In 1975, Chen married Su Huining (粟惠宁), the daughter of Grand General Su Yu, Marshal Chen Yi's second in command.

Death On 28 February 2018, Chen died in Hainan following a heart attack, at the age of 71.