Zhang Xudong

In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.

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(2021-10-01) (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
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Zhāng Xùdōng

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]

Biography

Zhang 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

1. "Xi Focus: Xi presents orders to promote military, armed police officers". Xinhua. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Wang Mengmeng (王萌萌) (21 October 2021). 张旭东同志逝世. Xinhua (in Chinese). Retrieved 21 October 2021.
5. 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.
6. "Chinese President Xi appoints new General for PLA's Western Theatre Command amidst Ladakh standoff". economictimes. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
7. 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.

Military offices
Preceded by Pan Liangshi	Commander of the 39th Army Group Army 2014–2017	Succeeded by Position revoked
Preceded by Shi Luze [zh]	Commander of the Central Theater Command Ground Force 2017–2017	Succeeded by Fan Chengcai [zh]
Preceded by Zhao Zongqi	Commanding Officer of the Western Theater Command 2020–2021	Succeeded by Xu Qiling