Zhao Zongqi

General
Zhao Zongqi
赵宗岐
Zhao Zongqi in 2016
Commander of the Western Theater Command
In office
February 2016 – December 2020
Preceded byNew title
Succeeded byZhang Xudong
Commander of the Jinan Military Region
In office
November 2012 – January 2016
Preceded byFan Changlong
Succeeded byJi Wenming
Chief of Staff of the Jinan Military Region
In office
December 2007 – November 2012
Preceded byZhang Hetian
Succeeded byMa Yiming
Personal details
BornApril 1955 (age 69)
Bin County, Heilongjiang, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materPLA Information Engineering University
PLA National Defence University
Military service
Allegiance People's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1970–2021
Rank General

Zhao Zongqi (Chinese: 赵宗岐; pinyin: Zhào Zōngqí; born 1955) is a general (shang jiang) of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China and a former Commander of the Western Theater Command.

Zhao was born in Bin County, Heilongjiang province. In his earlier year he was the deputy chief of staff of the Tibet Military District. In August 1999, he was promoted to chief of staff of the Tibet Military District, then deputy commanding officer of the Chongqing Mobilization District. In October 2004, he was named commander of the 14th Group Army. In September 2007, he was transferred to the 13th Group Army as commander. In December 2007, he was named chief of staff of the general staff of the Jinan Military Region.[1] In November 2012 he was named commander of the Jinan Military Region. On July 31, 2015, he was promoted to the rank of general.[2]

On February 1, 2016, Zhao was named commander of the re-organized Western Theater Command and served in this position till December 2020.[3][4] During his term in the Western Theatre, he oversaw China's response to the 2017 Doklam standoff and the management of 2020 standoff with India in Ladakh.[4]

On February 28, 2021, he was appointed vice-chairperson of the National People's Congress Foreign Affairs Committee.[5]

Zhao was a member of the 18th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Wu, Zhongliang (武仲良); Chen, Changjie (陈长杰); Hu, Guoqing (胡国庆). 济南军区参谋长赵宗岐中将莅临新县调研工作. Henan National Defence Education Online. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  2. ^ 中央军委在北京举行晋升上将军衔警衔仪式. 163.com. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  3. ^ 五大战区司令员、政委公布(名单). IFeng. February 1, 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Chinese President Xi appoints new General for PLA's Western Theatre Command amidst Ladakh standoff". economictimes. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  5. ^ Yu Hui (余晖) (28 February 2021). 三名上将履新!王宁、郑卫平、赵宗岐新职务披露. qq.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 1 March 2021.
Military offices
Preceded by
Zhang Hetian
Chief of Staff of the Jinan Military Region
2007–2012
Succeeded by
Ma Yiming
Preceded by Commander of the Jinan Military Region
2012–2016
Succeeded by
Ji Wenming
New title Commander of the Western Theater Command
2016–2020
Succeeded by