Sun Li-jen | |
|---|---|
| 孫立人 | |
 Sun Li-jen | |
| Commander of the Republic of China Army | |
| In office March 1950 – June 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Gu Zhutong |
| Succeeded by | Huang Chieh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | December 8, 1900 Jinnu Town, Lujiang Prefecture, Anhui, Qing China (present-day Lujiang County, Chaohu, Anhui, China) |
| Died | November 19, 1990 (aged 89) Taichung, Taiwan |
| Alma mater | Virginia Military Institute |
| Awards |  Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat
 Order of Blue Sky and White Sun |
| Nickname | "Rommel of the East" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Republic of China |
| Branch/service |  National Revolutionary Army |
| Years of service | 1927–1955 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | Tax Police Regiment New 38th Division New First Army Republic of China Army |
| Battles/wars | |
Sun Li-jen (traditional Chinese: 孫立人; simplified Chinese: 孙立人; pinyin: Sūn Lìrén; December 8, 1900 – November 19, 1990[citation needed]) was a Chinese Nationalist (KMT) general, a graduate of Virginia Military Institute in the United States, best known for his leadership in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War. His military achievements earned him the laudatory nickname "Rommel of the East".[1] His New First Army was known as the "Best Army under heaven" and credited with effectively confronting Japanese troops in the 1937 Battle of Shanghai and in the Burma Campaign, 1943–1944.
Perhaps because of his foreign military training, he did not have the full confidence of Chiang Kai-shek. Sun was relieved of battle command in the Chinese Civil War in 1946, and although he was made Commander in Chief in 1950 after the retreat of the Nationalist central government to Taiwan, he was given only ceremonial roles. He was charged with conspiracy in 1955 and spent his last thirty years under virtual house arrest.
He was also known as Sun Chung-neng (仲能; Zhòngnéng; "Chung-neng" being his art name) and had the courtesy name Fu-min (撫民; Fǔmín).
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