Zhang Zhizhong

Zhang Zhizhong
張治中
General Zhang Zhizhong as pictured in The Most Recent Biographies of Chinese Dignitaries
Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
In office
3 January 1965 – 6 April 1969
ChairmanZhu De
Vice Chairman of the National Defense Council of the People's Republic of China
In office
27 September 1954 – 6 April 1969
Governor of Xinjiang
In office
1 April 1946 – 21 May 1947
Preceded byWu Zhongxin
Succeeded byMasud Sabri
Governor of Hunan
In office
20 November 1937 – 21 January 1939
Preceded byHe Jian
Succeeded byXue Yue
Personal details
Born27 October 1890
Chaohu, Qing dynasty
Died6 April 1969(1969-04-06) (aged 78)
Beijing, People's Republic of China
Alma materBaoding Military Academy
AwardsOrder of Blue Sky and White Sun
Military service
Allegiance Republic of China
 People's Republic of China
Years of service1928–1969
RankGeneral 2nd Class
CommandsBeijing Shanghai Garrison Corps
5th Army
9th Army Group
Battles/warsBattle of Shanghai (1932), (1937)
Battle of Changsha (1939), Ili Rebellion
Zhang Zhizhong
Traditional Chinese張治中
Simplified Chinese张治中
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Zhìzhōng

Zhang Zhizhong or Chang Chih-chung (27 October 1890 – 10 April 1969) was a Chinese military commander and politician, general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and later a pro-Communist politician in the People's Republic of China.

Originally a supporter and close associate of Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang belonged to the left wing of the Kuomintang, advocating policies such as collaboration with the Communists against Japan and nationalization of foreign-owned businesses. In 1949 he defected from the Nationalists, becoming a follower of Mao Zedong, and went on to hold high office in the new Communist government, serving as Vice Chairman of the National Defense Council (1954–1969) and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (1965–1969).[1]

  1. ^ ZHANG ZHIZHONG (1890–1969), in Historical Dictionary of Modern China (1800–1949), by James Z. Gao, 2009, p.p. 437–438, The Scarecrow Press