Geng Biao | |
|---|---|
耿飚 | |
 Geng Biao at a luncheon aboard the aircraft carrierUSS Ranger on 3 June 1980. | |
| Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress | |
| In office 18 June 1983 – 8 April 1988 | |
| Chairman | Peng Zhen |
| 5thMinister of National Defense | |
| In office March 1981 – December 1982 | |
| Premier | Zhao Ziyang |
| Preceded by | Xu Xiangqian |
| Succeeded by | Zhang Aiping |
| Vice Premier of China | |
| In office March 1978 – May 1982 | |
| Premier | Hua Guofeng→Zhao Ziyang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1909-08-26)August 26, 1909 Liling,Hunan,Qing dynasty |
| Died | June 23, 2000(2000-06-23) (aged 90) Beijing,China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Spouse | Zhao Lanxiang (1941–2000) |
| Children | 4 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  China |
Geng Biao (Chinese:耿飚;pinyin:Gěng Biāo; 26 August 1909 – 23 June 2000) was a senior official in theChinese Communist Party (CCP) and a leader in Chinese politics, foreign relations, and military.[1][2]
Geng was born inLiling,Hunan Province of China.[2]
In 1922, Geng was a child worker in a lead-zinc mine in Shuikoushan, south ofHengyang City in China.
Geng joined theCommunist Youth League of China in Shuikoushan in 1925. In 1926, he led a miners' military campaign and failed. He then organized and led a militia inLiuyang in 1928. In August of the same year, he joined CCP.
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In September 1930, his forces merged into the Third Corps of theRed Army's FirstArmy Group and he became the staff of 9th division of Third Corps. In 1933, he became the head of the 4th regiment, 2nd division of the Red FirstFront Army. On 10 October 1934, he embarked on theLong March as the pioneer of 2nd division and, in the beginning of 1935, seized a critical military fortress at Loushanguan inGuizhou Province. As a result, he was promoted to the chief of staff of the 1st division of Red 1st Front Army afterZunyi Conference. After arrival in northernShaanxi, he was severely wounded in combat. In 1936, he graduated from theCounter-Japanese Military and Political University and was appointed the chief of staff of the Fourth Corps of the Red Fourth Front Army. The Fourth Corps had just arrived in northern Shaanxi having been commanded byZhang Guotao, and Geng took control of the unit.
After outbreak ofSecond Sino-Japanese War, he became the chief of staff, deputy head and deputy political commissar in 385 brigade, 129 division ofEighth Route Army. His army occupied EastGansu Province, responsible for the safety of west border of Shaan-Gan-Ning Region. He entered theCentral Party School of the Chinese Communist Party. After graduation, he went to Jin-Cha-Ji Region and became a military leader there. He led his army to seizeZhangjiakou in 1945.[citation needed]
In 1946, Geng accompanied Ye Jianying to participate in the Beiping Military Conciliatory Commission,initiated by GeneralGeorge C. Marshall to promote and prevent the outbreak of civil war between the Chinese Communists and Nationalists. Geng was the vice chief of staff of CCP's delegates. After the conciliation failed, he went back to Jin-Cha-Ji Region and became the chief of staff of the Field Army in the military region. In 1948, he was appointed as the vice commander of the second army group in North China Military Region. He fought inPingjin Campaign and the capture ofTaiyuan.[citation needed]
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After the formation ofPeople's Republic of China, Geng was appointed as the ambassador toSweden, and minister toDenmark andFinland on 9 May 1950. He was also the ambassador toPakistan,Myanmar andAlbania. He returned to China in 1971, and became the head of CCP's central foreign communication department, in charge of CCP's relations with foreign parties.
On 6 October 1976, he was ordered to take control of the broadcast and TV stations inBeijing, during theputsch againstGang of Four. Subsequently, he supervised the propaganda efforts of the CCP. In 1978, he was appointed asvice-premier of the State Council, in charge of foreign relations, military industry, civil airlines and tourism. In January 1979, he became the secretary-general and member of Standing Committee of CCP'sCentral Military Commission. During this timeXi Jinping was one of three of Geng Biao's secretaries.[3] When Geng Biao visited the US in 1980, Xi got a first hand view of American military power, visiting thePentagon,Pearl Harbor,Fort Bragg and boarding aKitty Hawk class aircraftcarrier.
In 1981, he became the firstMinister of National Defense of the People's Republic of China not to have held the rank of Marshal, and the only one never to have received a military rank despite his previous combat experience. He was replaced as Minister of National Defense and became state councilor the following year. In 1983, he became vice chairman of theStanding Committee of the National People's Congress, and chairman of foreign relation committee in NPC. He was also a member of Standing Committee of CCP's senior consultative committee. He was awarded First-Class Red Star Medal.
He died on 23 June 2000 in Beijing. In his final years, he was known for presenting the Geng Biao Question to cadres of the Party: "If one day you get sentenced, how far will the people you govern go to plead your case in an attempt to save you?"
Xi Jinping became one of Geng's three private secretaries, ormishu, a role combining confidential work, bag-carrying, research, running a diary, seeing to the superior's every need, and acting as his eyes and ears.
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by MarshalXu Xiangqian | Minister of National Defense 1981–1982 | Succeeded by GeneralZhang Aiping |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
