Zhang Youxia (born July 1950) is a Chinese general in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and currently the first-ranked vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). Zhang previously served as Head of the CMC Equipment Development Department, and its predecessor, the PLA General Armaments Department, from 2012 to 2017. He is the son of General Zhang Zongxun. He is a veteran of the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War and one of the few serving generals in China with war experience.

Early life and education

Zhang was born and raised in Beijing, but traces his ancestry to Yantou Village, Weinan, Shaanxi Province. He is the son of Zhang Zongxun, a Communist general in the Chinese Civil War, earning him princeling status. Zhang Youxia's father and Xi Jinping's father Xi Zhongxun both hail from the Weinan region of Shaanxi. Zhang attended Beijing Jingshan School.

Career

He joined the army in 1968 at 18 years of age. In 1976 he was serving in the 14th Group Army, stationed in Yunnan province; he was rapidly promoted. He took part in the border clashes of 1979 between China and Vietnam, and then the 1984 Battle of Laoshan. In August 2000, he was named commander of the 13th Group Army. In December 2005, he became the vice commander of the Beijing Military Region. He was promoted to commander of the Shenyang Military Region in September 2007. He has been associated with National University of Defense Technology as an Adjunct Professor since 2010. He attained the rank of major general in 1997, and lieutenant general in 2007. He became a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party in 2007. In July 2011, he was promoted to General. Prior to the 18th Party Congress held in 2012, a wholesale re-shuffle of the PLA leadership took place. Zhang was tapped to replace Chang Wanquan as director of the PLA General Armaments Department. In November 2012, as is customary for the directors of the "four big departments" of the PLA, Zhang was named a member of the Central Military Commission.

Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

In October 2017, Zhang was named as a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party and the second-ranking vice chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission. He also became the vice chairman of the state CMC in March 2018. Although expected to retire under the CCP's informal retirement age, Zhang remained on the Politburo following the 20th CCP National Congress in October 2022, and was re-appointed as the first-ranking CMC vice chairman.