Wang Bicheng

王必成

People’s Republic of China state institutions Marxism–Leninism

1912–1989 ○ Natural causes

New Fourth Army and East China Field Army veteran, later Kunming commander

Soldier from Macheng, Hubei. He joined the Red Army in 1929 and the CCP in 1930. After the Long March he commanded New Fourth Army and East China Field Army formations against Japan and in the civil war. He later served in Shanghai Garrison and Nanjing Military Region before becoming Kunming commander in 1971. Replaced by Yang Dezhi and transferred to Wuhan just before the 1979 war, he must be distinguished from its field commanders. He subsequently became a vice-president of the Academy of Military Sciences.

Activities and affiliations

1929–1949

Chinese Communist revolutionary forces (before 1949)Red Army, New Fourth Army and East China Field Army commander
Military command
1930–1989

Communist Party of China
Military command
1971–1979

People’s Republic of China state institutionsCommander, Kunming Military RegionMain
Military command

Career Timeline

1929Joined the Red Army
1930Joined the CCP
1971–1979Commander, Kunming Military Region
1979–1980Commander, Wuhan Military Region
1980Vice-President, Academy of Military Sciences

Related historical events

1978–1979The Sino-Vietnamese WarKunming commander before the warWas replaced in January 1979 and was no longer the incumbent commander when the invasion began in February.