Duan Weihong
Duan Weihong | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 29, 1966 China |
| Other names | Whitney Duan |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
| Known for | Significant business affiliations with the family of former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao; subject of extrajudicial detention |
Duan Weihong (; pinyin: Duàn Wěihóng; born December 29, 1966), who is also referred to as Whitney Duan, is a Chinese billionaire recognized for her significant business affiliations with the family of former Chinese premier Wen Jiabao. She was taken into secret custody in 2017 and reappeared publicly in 2023.
According to the memoir Red Roulette, authored by her former husband Desmond Shum, Duan developed a wide-reaching network of political and commercial ties within China, notably including connections to Zhang Peili, the spouse of Wen Jiabao. Her arrest on September 5, 2017, is thought to be connected to an inquiry initiated by Wang Qishan targeting Sun Zhengcai, both individuals linked to her circle. It has been reported that she fell victim to extrajudicial detentions carried out by the Chinese Communist Party, which are frequently utilized to conduct opaque investigations.
Just prior to the release of Red Roulette, Duan reached out to Shum—their first contact since her disappearance—requesting that he halt publication due to concerns over their son's wellbeing. Shum refused, suspecting that she was compelled by external pressure.