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