China’s first elite woman bodyguard wore steel vest while protecting world leaders

She took her job seriously and would have laid her life on the line for the people under her protection.

The 56-year-old from Beijing, comes from a family of police officers, and her father served as the chief bodyguard for several Chinese political leaders.

In 1984, Bian was admitted to the China People’s Police University, majoring in security protection, according to her online resume.

She learned boxing, judo, shooting, driving skills and became proficient in criminal psychology as well as law.

In an interview with CCTV in 2009, Bian said: “Once during a training session, I broke my left leg. But the rule at our school was that you should get to the training ground – crawl there if necessary.”

She said such rigorous challenges cultivated her willpower and determination.

Bian was inspired by Tim McCarthy, the bodyguard of former US President Ronald Reagan, and saw him as her role model.

In 1981, when Reagan was the subject of an assassination attempt in Washington D.C., McCarthy shielded him, successfully protecting the president.

“When the gunshot rang out, most people’s first reaction was to crouch down for self-protection. But McCarthy remained standing, even after being shot, he stood for a while longer,” Bian said.

“All the prior training had given McCarthy’s body a kind of muscle memory – he had to stand and protect the president, blocking the assassin’s view. I really admire him.”

After graduating with top honours from university in 1988, Bian joined the Ministry of State Security, becoming China’s first woman elite bodyguard.

Throughout her career, she successfully protected high-profile figures, including first ladies from the US, the former Soviet Union, India, and Japan, as well as a Thai princess and Pakistan’s former prime minister.

Not a single accident occurred under her watch, and she was praised for combining strength with attentiveness.

During former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev’s visit to China in May 1989, Bian developed a close friendship with his wife, Raisa.

Noticing the first lady’s back pain, Bian thoughtfully provided a cushion for her in the car, earning praise from her who told Chinese officials: “Bian is very considerate.”

After returning home, the first lady sent Bian a photo of the two of them.

In 1989, while serving as Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s bodyguard during her visit to China, Bian caught the princess when she fell from a camel during a tour. The two became friends.

The legendary bodyguard also came third in a Beijing beauty pageant in 1993.

Bian once revealed that she often wore bulletproof steel plates that weighed up to four kilos.

“I wear a bulletproof vest not for myself, but to ensure that when a bullet comes, I can block it, so that it will not pass through my body and harm the foreign guest,” she said.

Bian retired in 1995 due to “ageing” and the immense pressure her work entailed.

She started a security consulting company in Beijing, and now works in real estate, according to mainland news reports.

Bian’s life as an elite bodyguard continues to fascinate many peope today.

“Bian is a genuine Mulan in China. Her remarkable courage and outstanding combat skills are truly commendable,” said one person on Weibo.

“She embodies the beauty of a fairy, showcasing both the softness of a woman and the unwavering determination of a soldier,” another said.

“This remarkable heroine deserves a tranquil and joyful retirement. I sincerely hope the public will respect her privacy,” a third added.