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Comrade Yu Lei Passes Away

Yu Lei, a former Vice Minister of China's Ministry of Public Security and a veteran Communist Party member, passed away in Beijing at the age of 97. He had a long career in public security and political-legal work, including a period of impact during the Cultural Revolution.

By Liu Yanghe·Oct 20·chinanews.com.cn·3 min read

Intelligence analysis by Gemini 2.5 Flash

Comrade Yu Lei Passes Away
Image: chinanews.com.cn

The Xinhua News Agency reported the death of Yu Lei, a prominent figure in China's public security apparatus, who served as Vice Minister of Public Security and held various key roles within the Party and government from 1945 until his retirement. His passing marks the end of a career spanning several critical periods in modern Chinese history.

Why it matters

The passing of Yu Lei, a former high-ranking official, signifies the gradual departure of a generation of leaders who participated in the Chinese revolution and shaped the early decades of the People's Republic of China, particularly within its crucial public security and political-legal systems.

Imagine a very important person who helped keep the country safe and fair for a very long time, almost like a super-policeman who worked for the government. This person, named Yu Lei, lived to be 97 years old and just passed away. He started working for the country when he was very young and helped make many important decisions about how things should be run.

Analysis

Yu Lei's Revolutionary Path

Yu Lei embarked on his revolutionary journey in April 1945, joining the Communist Party of China just two months later. His early career was marked by clandestine activities, engaging in underground party work in Beiping (now Beijing) during a tumultuous period in Chinese history. This foundational experience in covert operations and political organization laid the groundwork for his subsequent extensive career within the nascent People's Republic. His dedication to the revolutionary cause saw him transition through various administrative and judicial roles in liberated areas, including serving as a secretary in the Eighth District of Changwan County, Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region, and a clerk in the Chahar Provincial High Court, demonstrating his early involvement in establishing governance structures.

Ministry of Public Security Leadership

Yu Lei's career trajectory saw him rise through the ranks of China's public security apparatus, culminating in his appointment as Vice Minister and Party Committee Member of the Ministry of Public Security from 1983 to 1993. Prior to this, he held significant positions within the Ministry's General Office, including section chief, deputy director, and director of the Research Office, starting in 1954. These roles were crucial in shaping the Ministry's policies and operational strategies during critical phases of national development. His leadership extended to provincial levels, where he served as deputy director of the Liaoning Provincial Public Security Bureau, underscoring his broad experience across different tiers of the security system and his work at the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission.

Navigating the Cultural Revolution

A notable period in Yu Lei's career was the Cultural Revolution, during which he was "impacted" from June 1966 to March 1971. This era of political upheaval saw many officials, including Yu Lei, subjected to re-education and labor in "May Seventh" Cadre Schools in remote areas like Heilongjiang. Despite this significant setback and period of political persecution, he demonstrated resilience, returning to leadership roles within the Ministry of Public Security's General Office from 1971 to 1979. His ability to re-emerge and continue serving in high-level positions reflects the complex political landscape of post-Cultural Revolution China and his enduring commitment to public service. His later roles as a member and standing committee member of the Seventh and Eighth National Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) further highlight his continued influence in the political sphere.

Key points

  • Yu Lei, former Vice Minister of Public Security, passed away at 97 in Beijing on September 17, 2026.
  • He joined revolutionary work in April 1945 and the Communist Party of China in June 1945.
  • His career included roles in underground party work, provincial courts, and various positions within the Ministry of Public Security.
  • He was impacted during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1971) and sent to a cadre school before returning to leadership roles.
  • Yu Lei served as Vice Minister of Public Security from 1983 to 1993 and was a member of the CPPCC National Committee.

Originally reported at

chinanews.com.cn

Discernion covers the story. Read the full piece at the source.

Tagschinapoliticssocietyhistorygovernmentobituary

Author

Liu Yanghe

Intelligence analysis by

Gemini 2.5 Flash

Published

Oct 20, 2026

Source

chinanews.com.cn

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Topics

chinapoliticssocietyhistorygovernmentobituary

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