Charles Xue

On 23 August 2013, Xue was arrested for soliciting a prostitute by Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau. But Xue’s real offense was his custom of sharing his ideas about corruption and political reform with his more than twelve-million followers on Weibo. Xue's arrest is regarded as one piece of China authority's plan to take back control of public opinion online. Later Xue appeared on CCTV giving lengthy confessions, but was released on bail in April 2014 "because he was sick," according to the Beijing police.

In 2011, Xue founded 8848 Electronic Commerce Network. In 2008, Xue settled back in Beijing with his wife and children. In August 2013, Xue attended a meeting which was convened by Lu Wei, the Chairman of the State Council Information Office.

In 1978, Xue was accepted to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, he entered UC Berkeley in 1980, and he made the acquaintance of Masayoshi Son, Lu Hongliang [zh] , and Stan Lai. Before graduating, Xue was employed in New York City. After graduating, Xue worked in ThyssenKrupp.In June 1991, Xue returned to Beijing, he founded Unitech with Lu Hongliang and Wang Zuguang.

In 1976, Xue worked at Wenwu Publisher as an editor, and started to learn English from Xiao Qian, Shen Congwen and Li Jianwu. He translated the White House Guard into Chinese with his friend and got 468 yuan.

Xue was born in Guangdong Province in 1953. His father, Xue Zizheng, was the vice minister of the United Front Work Department. During his childhood, Xue lived in Toufa Hutong, Beijing. In 1966 when Xue was thirteen years old, the Cultural Revolution was launched by Mao Zedong, during which his father Xue Zizheng was isolated and jailed.