1. Chang Li-sheng was a Chinese politician and diplomat who served as the Secretary General of the Kuomintang from 1954 to 1959.
17 Facts About Chang Li-sheng
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Chang Li-sheng was a rare example of Chinese political virtues, noted for his integrity and honesty.
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Chang Li-sheng is remembered for numerous achievements and deeds, including his role in assisting Chen Cheng, former Taiwan provincial governor, Premier, and Vice President, to launch Taiwan's local autonomy, economic and land reforms.
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Chang Li-sheng was born into a poor family in Leting, Hebei.
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In Paris, he became associated with Zhou Enlai, who joined the same work-study program in France and who later tried to enlist Chang Li-sheng to serve under Mao Zedong.
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In 1924, Chang Li-sheng returned to China and became a member of the KMT.
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In 1927, in the midst of Northern Expedition and of the split between the rightists and the leftists within the KMT, Chang Li-sheng served in the Political Department of the 10th Army of the National Revolutionary Army then based in Wuhan and under the influence of the KMT left-wingers.
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Shortly after Chiang Kai-shek purged the leftists and stood out as the new strongman within the KMT, Chang Li-sheng was sent to North China to handle local party affairs.
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In 1931, Chang Li-sheng was elected the first standing member of the KMT central executive committee, marking his rise within the KMT party hierarchy.
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Chang Li-sheng played a crucial role in bringing together local Chinese military leaders at the moment when the KMT was facing growing Japanese military encroachments.
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In 1948, in the heat of the Chinese civil war, Chang Li-sheng became Vice Premier of the ROC government, burdened with such challenging and difficult tasks as national resources relocations, currency reforms, anti-inflations, and anti-corruptions.
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In March 1950, when Chen Cheng became Premier, Chang Li-sheng was made, again, Vice Premier.
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Chang Li-sheng served the post until 1954, when Chiang Kai-shek appointed him Secretary-General of the KMT Central Executive Committee.
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Chang Li-sheng became the first Japanese Prime Minister in post-World War II to support and approve of a direct commercial relation between Japan and the PRC.
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Chang Li-sheng openly disagreed with Chiang Kai-shek's national policy of the military recovery of the Chinese mainland, calling it unrealistic and illusory.
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Chang Li-sheng refused government funds for special care after retiring from official post.
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Chang Li-sheng left his wife and eight children and an impeccable reputation as one of China's outstanding statesmen.