Compiled from the following sources:

Special biographic research
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2002-2006

Who's Who, Current Chinese Leaders
Wen Wei Publishing Company, Ltd. 2003-2005

Zhongguo Gongchandang Lijie Zhongyang Weiyuan Dacidian, 1921-2003
Beijing: Zhonggong dangshi chubanshe 2004

Revision History:

Biography Revised: 1/15/2015
Career Data Updated: 9/18/2007

PHOTO: Zhang Wannian
Zhang Wannian 张万年
Former Member of the 15th CPC Politburo
Born: 1928
Died: 2015

Biography

Zhang Wannian, male, Han nationality, was born in 1928 in Longkou, Shandong Province. He joined the PLA in 1944 and the CPC in 1945. He fought in the Chinese civil war and was cited for meritorious service. He was a regimental combat staff officer at the time of the Korean War and afterwards.

Zhang graduated from the PLA Nanjing Military Academy in 1961, and then served successively as regimental commander, division commander, army commander and regional commander in such places as Guangzhou, Wuhan and Jinan. He had a parallel rise in Party posts within the military. He served as PLA chief of staff from 1992 to 1995 and was appointed to the CPC and PRC Central Military Commissions during the same period. In 1995, he was appointed vice-chairman of both of these commissions. He was made lieutenant general in 1988 and general in 1993.

Zhang was an alternate member of the 12th and 13th CPC Central Committees and a member of the 14th and 15th CPC Central Committees. He was elected to the Politburo and as a member of the secretariat of the 15th CPC Central Committee. He was also a member of the 8th NPC and 9th NPC.

Zhang died in January 2015.

Career Data

(Won five merit citations and the Order of Liberation (Class 3))
1998—2003 Member, 9th NPC
1997—2002 Vice-Chairman, 15th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
1997—2002 Secretary, 15th CPC, Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat
1997—2002 Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee
1997—2002 Member, 15th CPC, Central Committee, Politburo
1997—???? Director, PLA, Election Committee
1995—2003 Vice-Chairman, Central Military Commission of the PRC
1995—1997 Vice-Chairman, 14th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
1993—1998 Member, 8th NPC
1993—1995 Member, Central Military Commission of the PRC
1993— General, PLA
1992—1997 Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee
1992—1995 Member, 14th CPC, Central Committee, Central Military Commission
1992—1995 Chief, PLA, Headquarters of the General Staff
1990—1992 Deputy Secretary, PLA, Regions, Jinan Military Region CPC, Party Committee
1990—1992 Commander, PLA, Regions, Jinan Military Region
1988—1993 Lieutenant General, PLA
1987—1992 Alternate Member, 13th CPC, Central Committee
1987—1992 Deputy Secretary, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region CPC, Party Committee
1987—1990 Commander, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region
1982—1987 Alternate Member, 12th CPC, Central Committee
1982—1987 Deputy Commander, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region, Wuhan Military District
1981—1982 Army Commander, PLA
1978—1981 Deputy Army Commander, PLA
1978—1979 Student, Military Academy of the Chinese PLA
1968—1981 Division Commander, PLA
1966—1968 Deputy Director, PLA, Regions, Guangzhou Military Region, Combat Department
1962—1966 Regimental Commander, PLA
1961 Graduate, Military Academy of the Chinese PLA
1961—1962 Deputy Regimental Commander, PLA
1956—1958 Chief of Staff, PLA
1948—1950 Chief, PLA, Services and Arms, Northeast Field Army, Regimental Communications Section
1948—???? Soldier, Guangxi Campaign
1948—???? Soldier, Beijing-Tianjin Campaign
1948—???? Soldier, Xinkailing Campaign, Tashan Blocking Action
1947—1948 Deputy Political Instructor, PLA, Northeast China Democratic United Army (Company Level)
1945 Joined, CPC
1944 Joined, PLA


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