Amid the escalating situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China, as the country mourned the passing of the senior Communist Party official Zhu Rongji less than two weeks ago, another significant figure, Vice State-level official and Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Chen Wu, passed away on August 24, 2026, at the age of 72. Additionally, from August 1 to August 24, at least eight provincial-level and above Communist Party officials, three senior military generals, and four academicians have also succumbed to illness.
On the afternoon of August 24, 2026, at 5:39 PM Beijing time, the state-run Chinese Communist Party media Xinhua News Agency released a death notice announcing the passing of Chen Wu, Vice Chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, who died in Beijing on August 24 at 3:05 PM at the age of 72.
Public records indicate that Chen Wu, who belonged to the Zhuang ethnic group, was born in Chongzuo City, Guangxi in November 1954. He had a long career in Guangxi’s political scene, holding positions such as Secretary-General of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Government, Director of the General Office, Party Committee Secretary, Vice Chairman of the Guangxi Government, member of the Autonomous Region Party Committee, and Secretary of the Nanning City Party Committee. In March 2013, he was appointed Vice Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Party Committee and Chairman of the Autonomous Region Government. In October 2020, he stepped down from his role and in November 2020, transitioned to become Vice Chairman of the Finance and Economic Committee of the National People’s Congress. In March 2023, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, earning the rank of Vice State-level official.
Over the past year, Chen Wu had been absent from several high-level Communist Party and government meetings. His former deputy and successor as Chairman of the Guangxi Autonomous Region Government, Lan Tianli, was removed from office in May 2025.
Chen Wu is the second national-level Communist Party official to pass away in the last two weeks. On August 12, 2026, Zhu Rongji, a senior Communist Party official and former member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, died at the age of 98.
According to public reports, from August 1 to August 24, 2026, at least eight provincial-level officials have also passed away.
On August 1, Wu Minda, former Deputy Secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Party Committee, Deputy Governor of Zhejiang Province, and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, passed away in Hangzhou at the age of 98 due to an incurable illness.
On August 2, He Guomo, former member of the Tianjin Municipal Party Committee, Director of the Municipal Education and Health Commission, and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, passed away in Tianjin at the age of 98 due to an incurable illness.
On August 10, Zhu Senlin, former Deputy Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, Governor of Guangdong Province, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Provincial People’s Congress, passed away in Guangzhou at the age of 96 due to an incurable illness.
On August 10, Wang Zhan, former Deputy Minister of Education of the Communist Party of China and Deputy Governor of Jiangsu Province, passed away in Nanjing at the age of 80 due to an incurable illness.
On August 11, Wu Pengfei, former Director of the Public Security Department and Prosecutor of Shandong Province, passed away at the age of 72.
On August 13, Ma Zhongzhi, former Party Committee member of the China Securities Regulatory Commission and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of a large state-owned key enterprise, passed away in Beijing at the age of 82 due to an incurable illness.
On August 13, Li Fashen, former President of Lanzhou University, expert in magnetism and magnetic materials, and professor at the School of Physics Science and Technology of Lanzhou University, passed away in Lanzhou at the age of 86. Li Fashen served as President of Lanzhou University from March 1993 to May 2006. In December 2003, Lanzhou University was listed as a “directly managed university” (roughly equivalent to a deputy ministerial-level university). In 2004, Li Fashen was officially designated as the President of Lanzhou University (deputy ministerial-level).
On August 17, Liu Jiyuan, senior Communist Party official, first director of the National Space Administration, and expert in carrier rockets and strategic missile control technology, passed away in Beijing at the age of 93 due to an incurable illness.
In addition, Li Yongjin, a Communist Party member, Air Force Major General, retired deputy corps-level cadre, and former Deputy Commander of the Beijing Military Region and Commander of the Beijing Military Region Air Force, passed away in Beijing on August 6, 2026, at the age of 84 due to an incurable illness.
Liu Dongcai, a Communist Party member, Major General of the Army, retired cadre at the corps level, and former Minister of the Second Artillery Corps Logistics Department, passed away in Beijing on August 4, 2026, at the age of 91. Liu Dongcai had served in various positions including Chief of Staff and Deputy Minister of the Second Artillery Corps Logistics Department.
Jiang Zhaozhi, a Communist Party member, Rear Admiral of the Navy, retired cadre at the corps level, and former Deputy Political Commissar of the North Sea Fleet, passed away in Qingdao on August 15, 2026, at the age of 89. Jiang Zhaozhi had served as Director of the Political Department of the Navy Fujian Base, Political Commissar of the North Sea Fleet, and Political Commissioner of the Submarine Academy.
Furthermore, according to public reports, four academicians have passed away from August until now, including two aerospace military experts.
Chen Yijian, a Communist Party member, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, former Deputy Director and Chief Designer of the Xi’an Aircraft Design and Research Institute, Chief Designer of the JH-7 aircraft, and former consultant of the Technology Committee of China Aviation Industry Group, passed away in Xi’an on August 24, 2026, at the age of 96 due to an incurable illness.
Wang Xiji, a Communist Party member, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, space technology expert, recipient of the “Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Medal,” former consultant of the Science and Technology Committee of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, and technology consultant of the China Academy of Space Technology, passed away in Beijing on August 12, 2026, at the age of 105 due to an incurable illness.
Ma Zongjin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, geologist and disaster expert, former director and researcher of the Institute of Geology of the China Earthquake Administration, passed away in Beijing on August 15, 2026, at the age of 93 due to an incurable illness.
Tang Shouzheng, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, forest management expert, forestry mathematician, chief scientist of the Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, honorary director and researcher of the Resource Information Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Forestry Sciences, and former counselor to the State Council of China, passed away on August 12, 2026, at the age of 85 due to an incurable illness.
Previously, in the span of approximately two months from June to early August 2026, at least 13 middle-aged and young Communist Party officials and police officers have passed away, with at least 10 of them being party members. Additionally, at least seven Communist officials aged between 60 and 70 have also passed away. From mid-June to mid-August, nearly 20 middle-aged and young university professors and corporate executives have also succumbed to illness.
At the same time, in recent months, there has been a significant increase in COVID-19 infections in mainland China.
Official data released by the Chinese Communist Party indicated that in July 2026, there were 522,000 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection nationwide, which was 6.61 times higher than the figures in June. In June 2026, there were 79,000 newly confirmed cases, accounting for about 70% of the total from January to May and representing a 2.4-fold increase compared to the number of cases in June 2025.
Due to past instances of the Chinese authorities concealing the true extent of the epidemic, there are external speculations that the actual severity of the current situation with the pandemic in mainland China may be far worse than what is being officially reported.