 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Liang Guanglie" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Liang Guanglie | |
|---|---|
梁光烈 | |
 Liang in 2012 | |
| State Councilor of China | |
| In office 17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013 | |
| Premier | Wen Jiabao |
| 10thMinister of National Defense | |
| In office 17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013 | |
| Premier | Wen Jiabao |
| Preceded by | Cao Gangchuan |
| Succeeded by | Chang Wanquan |
| Head of thePeople's Liberation Army General Staff Department | |
| In office November 2002 – 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Fu Quanyou |
| Succeeded by | Chen Bingde |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1940[1] Santai,Sichuan,China |
| Died | 12 November 2024(2024-11-12) (aged 83) Beijing, China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Alma mater | Henan University |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  People's Republic of China |
| Branch/service |  People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
| Years of service | 1958–2013 |
| Rank |  General |
| Commands | Ministry of National Defense (1998–2003) PLA General Staff Department (2002–2007) Nanjing Military Region (1999–2002) Shenyang Military Region (1997–1999) 54th Group Army (1990–1993) 20th Group Army (1985–1990) |
Liang Guanglie (Chinese:梁光烈;pinyin:Liáng Guāngliè, also spelled asLiang Kuang-lieh; 9 December 1940 – 12 November 2024) was a Chinese general and who served as theMinister of National Defense from 2008 to 2013.
Liang joined the army in January 1958 and theChinese Communist Party in November 1959. His first assignment was with the Second Regiment, First Division of the 1st Ground Force Army (1958–63), where he rose to the ranks of commander of an engineering company, quartermaster of the special agent company and staff officer in the operations and training branch. Liang studied at the Xinyang Infantry School (1963–64) and graduated fromHenan University's political theory correspondence education program (1984–86).[2] After finishing his studies, Liang returned to his unit until 1970 when he was promoted to the Operational Department staff of the Wuhan Military Region command headquarters where he remained until 1979.[citation needed]
Liang was named Deputy Commander of the 58th Division, 20th Group Army in 1979 and became commander in 1981–83. After a study break at the PLA Military Academy (March 1982 to January 1983), he was named deputy Commander of the20th Army in 1983 and Commander in 1985. In June 1989, he led the 20th Armyto enforce martial law in Beijing to suppress theTiananmen Square Protests. In 1990 he was transferred to command the54th Army and from December 1993 to July 1995, he was the chief of staff ofBeijing Military Region. From July 1995 to December 1997, he was the deputy commander of Beijing Military Region. From December 1997 to December 1999, he was the commander ofShenyang Military Region, and from December 1999 to November 2002, he was the commander ofNanjing Military Region and deputy secretary of CCP's committee.[citation needed]
Liang was theGeneral Chief of Staff of thePeople's Liberation Army from 2002 to 2007. He then served as a State Councilor and the Minister of National Defense. Additionally Liang was a member ofCentral Military Commission. He was also an alternate member of the 13th and 14th CCP Central Committees, and a member of the 15th, 16th and17th Central Committees.[citation needed]
Liang retired at the18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in late 2012 and was replaced by GeneralChang Wanquan.[3]
Liang died in Beijing on 12 November 2024, at the age of 83 (Chinese media counted as aged 84 according to Chinese custom).[4]
Media related toLiang Guanglie at Wikimedia Commons| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Yang Shiyi | Commander of the20th Group Army 1985–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Zhu Chao | Commander of the54th Group Army 1990–1993 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief of Staff of theBeijing Military Region 1993–1995 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of theShenyang Military Region 1997–1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commander of theNanjing Military Region 1999–2002 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by GeneralFu Quanyou | Head of thePeople's Liberation Army General Staff Department 2002–2007 | Succeeded by GeneralChen Bingde |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by GeneralCao Gangchuan | Minister of National Defense 2008–2013 | Succeeded by GeneralChang Wanquan |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
