Wang was born on August 13, 1948, to a middle-class family in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. Raised in Guangdong, Wang became involved with the rebels during the Cultural Revolution and was sent to the countryside in 1968.[2]
In 1974, Wang, together with Li Zhengtian and Chen Yiyang, under the pseudonym "Li Yizhe," posted a big-character poster entitled "Socialist Democracy," in which they questioned the ideological system of the Gang of Four and Lin Biao, and even Mao Zedong's authority, claiming that a "newborn bourgeoisie" had emerged, and calling for the establishment of a socialist system that was more democratic and based on the rule of law.[3]
Together with Liu Xiaobo he wrote and signed a letter that was published on September 30, 1996.[4]
This letter called on the Chinese authorities to reconcile the Chinese Communist Party and Guomindang,[5] and have dialogue with the Dalai Lama, the exiled head of the Tibetan government.
Liu Xiaobo was later arrested and sentenced to 3 years of "re-education through labor" camp. To escape from arrest, Wang Xizhe took refuge in Hong Kong.[6] His escape was revealed on October 13. Two days later on October 15, he arrived in the United States where he obtained political asylum.[7]
