Kang Shi'en later served as the State Councilor in charge of the oil industry.
18 Facts About Kang Shi'en
1.
2.
On 20 April 1915, Kang Shi'en was born into a landlord family in Tianjiazhuang, Huai'an County, Hebei Province.
3.
When Yu became the de facto head of the State Planning Commission in 1964, Kang Shi'en was appointed acting Minister of Petroleum.
4.
Kang Shi'en was denounced as a henchman of Yu Qiuli and a collaborator of the fallen leaders Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping.
5.
Kang Shi'en was appointed deputy director of the Jianghan Oil Field in 1969 and Vice Minister of the newly formed Ministry of Fuel and Chemical Industries in 1970.
6.
Kang Shi'en rose quickly during the transition period between Mao Zedong's death and Deng Xiaoping's rise.
7.
Kang Shi'en was made a Vice Premier in early 1978, and Director of the State Economic Commission.
8.
Kang Shi'en was considered a member of the loosely constituted "Oil Clique" headed by his patron Yu Qiuli.
9.
Kang Shi'en reached the peak of his career in 1979 and 1980, when he was considered China's energy czar.
10.
China was beginning to open its energy industry to foreign investment, and Kang Shi'en handled negotiations with the foreign oil companies and government officials regarding the development of oil resources in the Bohai Sea and the South China Sea.
11.
Kang Shi'en was said to be a shrewd yet straightforward negotiator with detailed knowledge about the oil business.
12.
Kang Shi'en's career was derailed by the November 1979 Bohai No 2 oil rig accident, during which 72 people died when the oil rig capsized in the Bohai Bay.
13.
Kang Shi'en lost his post as Director of the State Economic Commission in March 1981 and resumed the lower-ranking position of Petroleum Minister.
14.
Kang Shi'en was replaced as Minister by Tang Ke in May 1982, and became a Vice Premier-level State Councilor in 1983.
15.
Kang Shi'en sought treatment in the United States and partly recovered in 1985.
16.
Kang Shi'en served as State Councilor until April 1988 and was a member of the Central Advisory Commission from 1987 to 1992.
17.
Kang Shi'en was a member of the 11th and 12th Central Committees of the CCP.
18.
Kang Shi'en died in Beijing on 21 April 1995, one day after his 80th birthday.