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Yang Chengwu | |
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| Native name | 楊成武 |
| Born | 27 October 1914 (1914-10-27) |
| Died | February 14, 2004(2004-02-14) (aged 89–90) |
| Allegiance |  Communist China Republic of China People's Republic of China |
| Rank | General |
| Battles / wars | Chinese Civil War Second Sino-Japanese War |
Yang Chengwu (simplified Chinese:杨成武;traditional Chinese:楊成武;pinyin:Yáng Chéngwǔ; October 27, 1914 – February 14, 2004[1]), alias Yang Nengjun (Chinese:杨能俊; pinyin:Yáng Néngjùn) was a Communist Chinese revolutionary and general of thePeople's Liberation Army.[citation needed] He was the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army from 1954 to 1965 and 1974–1980. He was named Acting Chief of General Staff in 1966 afterLuo Ruiqing was purged at the beginning of theCultural Revolution.
Yang was born inChangting County,Fujian Province of China on October 8, 1914.He died on February 14, 2004, in Beijing, at the age of 90.
As deputy chief in early 1964, Yang commissioned a report which evaluated how prepared the national economy was for a sudden attack by foreign foes.[2]: 54 The report evaluated the distribution of Chinese industry, noted that they were primarily concentrated in 14 major coastal cities which were vulnerable to nuclear attack or air raids, and recommended that the General Staff research measures to guard against a sudden attack.[2]: 4 The report was issued on April 25, 1964, and read byMao Zedong the next month.[2]: 54 This evaluation prompted Mao to advocate for the creation of a heavy industrial zone as a safe haven for retreat in the event of foreign invasion during State Planning Meetings, consistent with his view of the necessity for building constructing theThird Front.[2]: 4
In March 1968,Lin Biao and the rest of theGang of Four accused Yang, Yu Lijian (second secretary of the Party Committee of the Air Force), and Fu Chongbi (commander of the Beijing garrison) of "overturning the case of theFebruary Countercurrent."[3]: 76–77 This event became known as the "Yang, Yu, Fu Incident."[3]: 76 Based on allegations later deemed by the Party to be false, the Gang of Four and their allies contended that Yang, Yu, and Fu sought to had sought to seize power with respect to the air force and the Beijing garrison.[3]: 76 Yang, Yu, and Fu were persecuted and some of their allies attacked and even killed.[3]: 76 In March 1979, the Central Committee issued a Notice of Open Rehabilitation and repudiated the allegations made by the Gang of Four during the "Yang, Yu, Fu Incident."[3]: 76 TheCentral Committee resolved that the accusations were slanderous, officially restored the reputations of those targeted in the incident, and paid compensation for those who were injured or killed as a result.[3]: 76
Yang Chengwu's sonYang Dongming is a retired lieutenant general who was appointed Deputy Commander of thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) in 2005.[4]
| Military offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Chief ofPLA General Staff Headquarters (acting) 1966–1968 | Succeeded by |
