Zhang Xudong (Chinese: 张旭东; November 1962 – 1 October 2021) was a general (Shangjiang) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. He was commander of the Western Theater Command.[1] He was promoted to the rank of major general (shaojiang) in July 2012, lieutenant general (zhongjiang) in July 2018,[2] and general (Shangjiang) in December 2020.[3]
Zhang Xudong | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
张旭东 | |||||||
| Commander of the Western Theater Command | |||||||
| In office December 2020 – June 2021 | |||||||
| Preceded by | Zhao Zongqi | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Xu Qiling | ||||||
| Personal details | |||||||
| Born | November 1962 Qian'an, Hebei, China | ||||||
| Died | October 1, 2021 (aged 58) Beijing, China | ||||||
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party | ||||||
| Occupation | Military officer | ||||||
| Military service | |||||||
| Allegiance |  People's Republic of China | ||||||
| Branch/service |  People's Liberation Army Ground Force | ||||||
| Years of service | 1981–2021 | ||||||
| Rank |  General | ||||||
| Commands | Western Theater Command | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 張旭東 | ||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 张旭东 | ||||||
| |||||||
Biography
editZhang was born in Qian'an, Tangshan, Hebei province in 1962. He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in September 1981 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in August 1984.[4] He served in Shenyang Military Region for a long time. He once served as chief of staff of the 39th Army Group Army. In February 2014, he succeeded Pan Liangshi as commander of the 39th Army Group Army. In March 2017, he was appointed deputy commander of the Central Theater Command and commander of the Central Theater Command Ground Force.[5] On October 1, 2019, he was deputy commander in chief of the 70th anniversary of the People's Republic of China. In December 2020, he became commander of the Western Theater Command, succeeding Zhao Zongqi.[6]
Zhang died on 1 October 2021, from cold conditions while deployed with his troops near the LAC.[7]
References
edit- ^ "Xi Focus: Xi presents orders to promote military, armed police officers". Xinhua. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ Wang Jun (王俊) (3 August 2018). 将官晋衔消息陆续披露，中部战区副司令员张旭东晋升中将军衔. The Paper (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ Li Xuanliang (李宣良) (18 December 2020). 中央军委举行晋升上将军衔警衔仪式 习近平颁发命令状并向晋衔的军官警官表示祝贺. Xinhua (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ Wang Mengmeng (王萌萌) (21 October 2021). 张旭东同志逝世. Xinhua (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
- ^ Lin Yunshi (林韵诗) (20 March 2017). 39集团军军长张旭东升任中部战区陆军司令员. Caixin (in Chinese). Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ "Chinese President Xi appoints new General for PLA's Western Theatre Command amidst Ladakh standoff". economictimes. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
- ^ Chan, Minnie (21 October 2021). "Chinese general Zhang Xudong who stepped down as head of Western Theatre Command in June dies aged 58". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 21 October 2021.