A princeling born to Communist Party (CCP) elite, Xu rose to prominence after serving over a decade as private secretary (mishu) to Chen Yun, the most senior of the Eight Elders and the leading hard-liner of late 20th century China.

He has been accused of corruption, and involvement in human rights abuses including directing the persecution of religious minorities, extrajudicial killings, and executions of prisoners of conscience by organ harvesting.

Xu Mingzhen left Hong Kong for Beijing to participate in the Cultural Revolution, and made a career for himself in the ranks of the CCP, serving abroad including in the Soviet Union working on military industrial projects in Kazakhstan.

In August 1992, he reportedly traveled to Taiwan and met with Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, making what CCP press described as "important contributions to the preparation" of the Wang–Koo summit.

After graduating college, he was accepted as a full member of the CCP in 1972, remaining at the Public Security School as secretary of the General Office until 1977, likely tasked with investigating the political loyalty of employees and making decisions on personnel.

[7] In an extremely short surprise trial characteristic of the "Strike Hard" campaigns of the era, Nie was charged on April 20, 1995, arraigned on the 22nd, convicted on the 25th, issued a death warrant on the 26th, and executed by firing squad on the 27th.

"[7] At the time, an official in the Hebei procuratorate raised an objection, believing that beyond the (likely forced) confession, there was no other evidence of Nie's guilt, and demanded that the sentence be changed.

Xu Yongyue, by then Minister of State Security, reportedly came forward and made great efforts to obstruct the investigation, leaning on former colleagues in Hebei and other senior MSS officials.

[2] [2] [2] Following a sex scandal which ensnared several senior MSS and high communist party officials, Xu was given a forced retirement in August 2007 by Hu Jintao.