Zhang Youxia

Zhang Youxia (Chinese: 张又侠; born July 1950) is a general in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China and current the second-ranked Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Central Military Commission (CMC).[1] He previously served as Head of the CMC Equipment Development Department, and its predecessor, the PLA General Armaments Department, from 2012 to 2017.[2] He is the son of General Zhang Zongxun. He is a veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and one of the few serving generals in China with war experience.[3]

This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhang.

General Zhang Youxia
张又侠
Head of the Equipment Development Department of the Central Military Commission
In office January 2016 – August 2017
Succeeded by	Li Shangfu
Head of the People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department
In office October 2012 – January 2016
Preceded by	Chang Wanquan
Military service
Allegiance	China
Branch/service	People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service	1968–present
Rank	General
Unit	Central Military Commission Central Leading Group for Military Reform
Commands	CMC Equipment Development Department (2015–2017) PLA General Armaments Department (2012–2015) Shenyang Military Region (2007–2012) 13th Group Army (2000–2005)
Battles/wars	Sino-Vietnamese War (1979) Battle of Laoshan (1984)

Biography

Zhang was born and raised in Beijing, but traces his ancestry to Yantou Village, Weinan, Shaanxi Province. He is the son of Zhang Zongxun, a Communist general in the Chinese Civil War. Zhang Youxia's father and Xi Jinping's father Xi Zhongxun both hail from the Weinan region of Shaanxi.

Zhang attended Beijing Jingshan School. He joined the army in 1968 at 18 years of age. In 1976 he was serving in the 14th Group Army, stationed in Yunnan province; he was rapidly promoted. He took part in the border clashes of 1979 between China and Vietnam, and then the 1984 Battle of Laoshan.[4]

In August 2000, he was named commander of the 13th Group Army. In December 2005, he became the vice commander of the Beijing Military Region. He was promoted to commander of the Shenyang Military Region in September 2007. He attained the rank of major general in 1997, and lieutenant general in 2007. In July 2011, he was promoted to General. Prior to the 18th Party Congress held in 2012, a wholesale re-shuffle of the PLA leadership took place. Zhang was tapped to replace Chang Wanquan as director of the PLA General Armaments Department. In November 2012, as is customary for the directors of the "four big departments" of the PLA, Zhang was named a member of the Central Military Commission.

In October 2017, Zhang was named Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Zhang is a member of the 19th Politburo of the Communist Party of China. He was previously a member of the 17th and 18th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China.[1]

References

1. "Biography of Zhang Youxia". China Vitae. Retrieved 2010-12-27.
2. The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 26–28, 2012, p. 3.
3. "PLA reshuffle strengthens Xi Jinping's hand in corruption fight". South China Morning Post. 2014-09-22.
4. Liu Yuanxun. 中国军队作战重大实录. Lhasa: People's Publisher of Tibet. May 2000. ISBN 7-223-00648-X