Zhang Yang (Chinese: 张阳; pinyin: Zhāng Yáng; August 1951 – November 23, 2017) was a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) who served as Director of the Political Work Department. He was previously political commissar of the Guangzhou Military Region.[1] He committed suicide in November 2017 when under disciplinary investigation.

Zhang Yang
张阳
Zhang Yang
Director-general of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission
In office
November 2015 – August 2017
Preceded byNew title
Succeeded byMiao Hua
Director-general of the People's Liberation Army General Political Department
In office
October 2012 – November 2015
Preceded byLi Jinai
Succeeded byPosition revoked
Political Commissar of the Guangzhou Military Region
In office
September 2007 – October 2012
Preceded byYang Deqing
Succeeded byWei Liang
Personal details
BornAugust 1951
Wuqiang County, Hebei, China
DiedNovember 23, 2017(2017-11-23) (aged 66)
Beijing, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materPLA National Defence University
Military service
Allegiance People's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1968–2017
Rank General (stripped in 2018)
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinZhāng Yáng

Biography

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Zhang was born in Wuqiang County, Hebei Province. He graduated from the basic department of PLA National Defense University, and also studied at the Central Party School of the Chinese Communist Party, majoring in administrative management. He was the director of the political department and a standing committee member of the CCP committee of the Guangzhou Military Region. From September 2007 to December 2015, he was political commissar and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of the Guangzhou Military Region. He attained the rank of lieutenant general in July 2006 and general in July 2010.[2]

Zhang was a member of the 17th and 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and a deputy to the 10th National People's Congress.[citation needed]

Zhang Yang was under investigation by the Central Military Commission on August 28, 2017, for discipline violations and bribery.[3][4][5] He is believed to have committed suicide at his home on November 23, 2017, making him the most senior military figure to have done so during the ongoing graft investigations among PLA personnel.[6][7] On October 16, 2018, Zhang Yang was posthumously stripped of his rank and expelled from the CCP.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Biography of Zhang Yang". China Vitae. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
  2. ^ "兰州军区司令员王国生等11人晋升上将" (in Chinese). Sina.com.cn. 20 July 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  3. ^ "中央軍委委員房峰輝張陽落馬". Singtao Daily. 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
  4. ^ "张阳自杀身亡". Xinhuanet. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  5. ^ "张阳畏罪自杀"一了百了"?死后也能开除党籍". news.sina.com.cn. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  6. ^ "Chinese official commits suicide after authorities launch probe: Xinhua". Reuters. 2017-11-28. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  7. ^ "Disgraced Chinese general hangs himself in Beijing home". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2017-11-28.
  8. ^ "中共中央决定开除张阳党籍 依纪依法追缴涉案财物-新华网". Xinhuanet. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved 2018-10-16.
Military offices
Preceded by
Tang Zhaochuan
Director of the Political Department of the 42nd Group Army
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by Political Commissar of the 42nd Group Army
2002–2005
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director of the Political Department of the Guangzhou Military Region
2004–2007
Succeeded by
Political Commissar of the Guangzhou Military Region
2007–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Director-general of People's Liberation Army General Political Department
2012–2015
Succeeded by
Position revoked
New title Director-general of the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission
2015–2017
Succeeded by