11 Facts About Sheng Shiqi

Sheng Shiqi was a Chinese brigade commander in Xinjiang, and the brother of the governor of that province, Sheng Shicai.

Sheng Shiqi's murder was a matter of dispute between the Soviet Union and the regional government in Xinjiang, with Sheng Shicai claiming his brother's murder was orchestrated by the Soviets in order to stage a coup, while the Soviets claimed Sheng ordered his brother's murder because of his close ties to Moscow.

The fourth younger brother of Sheng Shicai, a de facto independent ruler of the Chinese Xinjiang Province, Sheng Shiqi graduated from the Cavalry Division of the NCO School in Tokyo, Japan, and was the instructor of the Nanjing Army Cavalry School.

In 1934, Sheng Shiqi married Chen Xiuying, a daughter of a local magistrate.

Sheng Shiqi went to Moscow in May 1937 to study at the Moscow Military Academy "Mikhail Vasilyevich Frunze".

Sheng Shiqi's wife lived with him and was completely russified while in Moscow.

On March 19,1942, Sheng Shiqi went back home with his younger brother Sheng Shiji.

However, the conversation did not go well; Sheng Shiqi berated his wife for not taking good care of their daughter to vent his anger.

Suddenly, Chen Xiuying heard the bang of a gun; when she rushed into the room, she saw Sheng Shiqi fall to the ground and was killed on the spot.

In Chen Xiuying's confession, she was convinced by her husband's friend, Ratov, who told her that Sheng Shiqi had an affair.

Forbes concurs with this opinion, stating that Sheng Shiqi was murdered because of his pro-Soviet views.