Zhang Zhizhong

Zhang Zhizhong
張治中
General Zhang Zhizhong as pictured in The Most Recent Biographies of Chinese Dignitaries
Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress
In office 5 January 1965 – 10 April 1969
Vice Chairman of the National Defense Council of the People's Republic of China
In office 27 September 1954 – 10 April 1969
Governor of Xinjiang
In office 1 April 1946 – 21 May 1947
Preceded by	Wu Zhongxin
Succeeded by	Masud Sabri
Governor of Hunan
In office 20 November 1937 – 21 January 1939
Preceded by	He Jian
Succeeded by	Xue Yue
Personal details
Born	27 October 1890 Chaohu, Qing dynasty
Died	6 April 1969(1969-04-06) (aged 78) Beijing, People's Republic of China
Alma mater	Baoding Military Academy
Awards	Order of Blue Sky and White Sun
Military service
Allegiance	Republic of China  People's Republic of China
Years of service	1928–1969
Rank	General 2nd Class
Commands	Beijing Shanghai Garrison Corps 5th Army 9th Army Group
Battles/wars	Battle of Shanghai (1932), (1937) Battle of Changsha (1939), Ili Rebellion

Zhang Zhizhong or Chang Chih-chung (27 October 1890 – 6 April 1969) was a Chinese military commander and politician, general in the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and later a pro-Communist politician in the People's Republic of China.

Originally a supporter and close associate of Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang belonged to the left wing of the Kuomintang, advocating policies such as collaboration with the Communists against Japan and nationalization of foreign-owned businesses. In 1949 he defected from the Nationalists, becoming a follower of Mao Zedong, and went on to hold high office in the new Communist government, serving as Vice Chairman of the National Defense Council (1954–1969) and Vice Chairman of the National People's Congress (1965–1969).^[1]