19 Facts About Zhang Youxia

Zhang Youxia is a Chinese general in the People's Liberation Army and currently the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.

Zhang Youxia is a veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and one of the few serving generals in China with war experience.

Zhang Youxia was born and raised in Beijing, but traces his ancestry to Yantou Village, Weinan, Shaanxi Province.

Zhang Youxia is the son of Zhang Zongxun, a Communist general in the Chinese Civil War, earning him princeling status.

Zhang Youxia joined the army in 1968 at 18 years of age.

Zhang Youxia took part in the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979 between China and Vietnam, and then the 1984 Battle of Laoshan.

Zhang Youxia was promoted to commander of the Shenyang Military Region in September 2007.

Zhang Youxia has been associated with National University of Defense Technology as an Adjunct Professor since 2010.

Zhang Youxia attained the rank of major general in 1997, and lieutenant general in 2007.

Zhang Youxia became a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in 2007.

Zhang Youxia was tapped to replace Chang Wanquan as director of the PLA General Armaments Department.

In November 2012, as is customary for the directors of the "four big departments" of the PLA, Zhang Youxia was named a member of the Central Military Commission.

In October 2017, Zhang Youxia was named as a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and the second-ranking vice chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission.

Zhang Youxia became the vice chairman of the state CMC in March 2018.

In January 2022, during a meeting of PLA's disciplinary officials, Zhang Youxia said the PLA should come up with innovative measures to eliminate corruption problems.

Zhang Youxia was re-appointed as PRC CMC vice-chairman in March 2023.

In October 2023, Zhang Youxia addressed the Beijing Xiangshan Forum by saying the PLA would "show no mercy" against any moves towards Taiwanese independence.

Zhang Youxia visited Russia in November 2023, meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin.

At the 19th Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao in April 2024, Zhang Youxia called for abandoning "cold war mentality" and promised "firm countermeasures against unreasonable provocations" in the South China Sea.