TROTSKY made China one of his central planks of criticism of Stalin, exposing the disastrous political strategy, which lead to the massacres in Shanghai and elsewhere.
Wang became a member of the Left Opposition along the majority of Chinese students in Moscow. On returning to Shanghai, still regarding himself as oppositionist within the Communist Party, he worked for Zhou Enlai until he was expelled in 193l.
For the next 20 years Wang worked with all the major figures in China including Chen Duxiu the founder of the Chinese Communist Party and Harold Isaacs to build an alternative to the Stalinists. He did not have a lot of success in the sharp conditions of the Japanese invasion of China and the always incipient conditions of civil war between the nationalists and communists.
Political arguments were settled by guns and many of Wang's comrades died and the rest including Wang spent many years in gaol. His Memoirs of a Chinese Revolutionary (ISBN 0-231-07452, Columbia University Press, 199l) provides an inspiring account of his life.
However this struggle, partly through Wang's efforts has found its echoes in many of the struggles for democracy in China right down to Tiananmen Square.
Through his various exiles Wang was the most non sectarian of Trotskyists always willing to comment, listen and contribute. The list of people visiting him included socialists from all over the world.
His tolerance even including listening to a young Graham Bash (complete with hair) explaining his own views of the Chinese Revolution. Wang still read Labour Briefing years later.
His commitment to treating everyone as a human being was a sharp contrast to the way he had been treated. His unassuming warmth provided inspiration to those who met him right up to his death.
He was a friend of Louis Sinclair, the famous bibliographer of Trotskyism. On one trip to Glasgow to meet Louis he was introduced to Charlie van Gelderen and they too became firm friends.
The strength of internationalism of socialism is to remember these three comrades from three continents wandering round the streets of Glasgow arguing and enjoying themselves. I am sure their ghosts are still there. movement in his memoirs, which have now been translated and published in English, French, German and Japanese.
He kept a critical watch on events in China and continued to publish his writing which included translations of Trotsky's
with different views, his memory, and his
example, will continue to inspire us all.
Wang is survived by his wife, at least two of his children, and some grandchildren, all except one are now in China.