Liang Guanglie (Chinese: 梁光烈; pinyin: Liáng Guāngliè, also spelled as Liang Kuang-lieh; born December 1940 in Santai, Mianyang, Sichuan) is a Chinese retired general and who served as the Minister of National Defense from 2008 to 2013.

Liang Guanglie
梁光烈
Liang Kuang-lieh
Liang in 2012
State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China
In office
17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013
PremierWen Jiabao
10th Minister of National Defense
In office
17 March 2008 – 16 March 2013
PremierWen Jiabao
Preceded byCao Gangchuan
Succeeded byChang Wanquan
Head of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department
In office
November 2002 – 2007
Preceded byFu Quanyou
Succeeded byChen Bingde
Personal details
Born (1940-12-01) 1 December 1940 (age 83)[citation needed]
Santai, Sichuan, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materHenan University
Military service
Allegiance People's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1958–2013
Rank General
CommandsMinistry 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)

Life and career

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Liang with the visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates in Beijing, 2011

Liang joined the army in January 1958 and the Chinese 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 from Henan University's political theory correspondence education program (1984–86).[1] 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 the 20th Army in 1983 and Commander in 1985. In June 1989, he led the 20th Army to enforce martial law in Beijing to suppress the Tiananmen Square Protests. In 1990 he was transferred to command the 54th Army and from December 1993 to July 1995, he was the chief of staff of Beijing 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 of Shenyang Military Region, and from December 1999 to November 2002, he was the commander of Nanjing Military Region and deputy secretary of CCP's committee.[citation needed]

Liang was the General Chief of Staff of the People'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 of Central Military Commission. He was also an alternate member of the 13th and 14th CCP Central Committees, and a member of the 15th, 16th and 17th Central Committees.[citation needed]

Liang retired at the 18th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party in late 2012 and was replaced by General Chang Wanquan.[2]

References

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Citations

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Sources

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  • "Liang Guanglie". People's Daily. Retrieved 2007-03-24.
  • China's General Chen Bingde appointed to key military post (AFP via the Straits Times)
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Military offices
Preceded by
Yang Shiyi
Commander of the 20th Group Army
1985–1990
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Zhu Chao
Commander of the 54th Group Army
1990–1993
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the Beijing Military Region
1993–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Shenyang Military Region
1997–1999
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Nanjing Military Region
1999–2002
Succeeded by
Preceded by
General Fu Quanyou
Head of the People's Liberation Army General Staff Department
2002–2007
Succeeded by
General Chen Bingde
Government offices
Preceded by Minister of National Defense
2008–2013
Succeeded by