Chi Haotian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chi Haotian
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| 迟浩田 Chih Hao-tien |
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Chi in 2000
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| Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission | |
| In office Party Commission: 28 September 1995 – 15 November 2002 State Commission: 28 March 1993 – 5 March 2003 |
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| Chairman | Jiang Zemin |
| State Councilor of China | |
| In office 29 March 1993 – 17 March 2003 |
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| Premier | Li Peng Zhu Rongji |
| 8th Minister of National Defense | |
| In office 29 March 1993 – 17 March 2003 |
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| Premier | Li Peng Zhu Rongji |
| Preceded by | Qin Jiwei |
| Succeeded by | Cao Gangchuan |
| Head of the General Staff Department of the People's Liberation Army | |
| In office 28 November 1987 – 28 October 1992 |
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| Preceded by | Yang Dezhi |
| Succeeded by | Zhang Wannian |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 July 1929 Zhaoyuan, Shandong, Republic of China |
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Chinese Communist Party |
| Branch/service |  PLA Ground Force |
| Years of service | 1944–2003 |
| Rank |  General |
| Battles/wars | Chinese Civil War Korean War |
| Awards |  Order of Liberation (3rd Class; 1955) |
Chi Haotian (simplified Chinese: 迟浩田; traditional Chinese: 遲浩田; pinyin: Chí Hàotián; born on July 9, 1929) is a retired general from China. He was an important leader in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). From 1993 to 2003, he served as the Minister of National Defense.
Contents
Early Life and Joining the Party
Chi Haotian was born in Zhaoyuan, Shandong province, which was part of the Republic of China at the time. He joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in October 1946. This was an important step in his early life.
Military Career Highlights
Chi joined the army in July 1945. He later studied at the Military Academy of the PLA.
Service in the Korean War
During the Korean War, Chi served as a battalion instructor. He also worked as a deputy director in a regimental political department. He was part of the 27th Corps of the People's Volunteer Army in North Korea. For his bravery during the war, he received a special "Class-One" commendation.
Key Leadership Roles
In 1973, Chi became the vice political commissar of the Beijing Military Region. He also worked as a vice editor-in-chief for a major newspaper called "People's Daily."
After a big earthquake hit Tangshan in 1976, Chi was named deputy commander of the Tangshan Earthquake Relief Headquarters. He helped lead the People's Liberation Army's efforts to assist earthquake victims.
He later held several other important positions. These included vice director of the PLA's general staff department and political commissar of the Jinan Military Region. He also became the head of the general staff department of the PLA. In 1988, he was chosen to be a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC). This is a very high-level military group.
Role in 1989 Events
In May and June 1989, Chi Haotian played a role in directing the military's actions in Beijing. He helped enforce martial law during the Tiananmen Square Protests. As chief of staff, he gave instructions to military officers about moving troops into Beijing. These actions led to a significant event on June 4, 1989.
After these events, Chi's involvement was closely watched by human rights groups. For example, when he visited the United States in 1996 as China's Defense Minister, his actions in 1989 were discussed. This showed that there was ongoing international concern about his role.
Minister of National Defense
In 1993, Chi became a state councilor and the Minister of National Defense. He held this position until 2003. He also led the group that wrote the Law of National Defense. In September 1995, he was elected vice chairman of the CCP's Central Military Commission. He became vice chairman of the state's CMC in December of that year.
In October 1999, Chi met with the Syrian Defense Minister in Damascus, Syria. They talked about making military ties between China and Syria stronger. After that, Chi flew to Israel and met with Ehud Barak, who was then the prime minister and Defense Minister of Israel. They discussed military relations, including a large sale of military aircraft.
Chi was elected as a member of the CCP's 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th Central Committees. He also became a Politburo member at the 15th National Congress. He received a First-class honor in 1952 and a Third-Class Liberation medal in 1985. He was made a general in 1988.
Personal Life
Chi Haotian married Jiang Qingping in 1956. Jiang worked as a nurse at a People's Liberation Army hospital. They had a son and a daughter together. Jiang Qingping passed away on June 4, 2023, at the age of 90. Their son, Chi Xingbei, is also a major general in the People's Liberation Army. He previously served as the political commissar of the army logistics department.
See also
In Spanish: Chi Haotian para niños
