Liu Huaqing | Today's AI Wiki

1. Overview

Liu Huaqing (October 1, 1916 - January 14, 2011) was a prominent Chinese revolutionary and admiral of the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). He is widely acclaimed as the "father of the modern Chinese Navy" and the "father of Chinese aircraft carriers" due to his significant contributions to the modernization and strategic development of China's naval forces. His career spanned from the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army in the 1930s through key leadership positions in the People's Republic of China, including Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC). A unique figure, Liu also served as a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, making him the last active military officer to hold a seat in this highest echelon of Chinese political power. However, his legacy is also marked by his command role in the imposition of martial law and the suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests, an event that draws criticism regarding human rights and the use of military force against civilians.

2. Early Life and Education

Liu Huaqing's formative years were deeply intertwined with the early struggles of the Chinese Communist Party and the People's Liberation Army. His education laid the groundwork for his later strategic insights, particularly his deep understanding of modern naval warfare.

2.1. Birth and Upbringing

Liu Huaqing was born on October 1, 1916, in Huang'an County, Hubei province, then part of the Republic of China. His early life was shaped by the tumultuous political and social environment of revolutionary China.

2.2. Education and Early Military Service

Liu Huaqing embarked on his revolutionary path at a young age, joining the Chinese Communist Youth League in October 1929. The following year, in December 1930, he enlisted in the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, marking the beginning of his extensive military career. By October 1935, he had formally joined the Chinese Communist Party. During the Chinese Civil War, Liu served in the Second Field Army, which was led by Deng Xiaoping as its political commissar. Liu himself held the position of Political Department Director for the 11th Army, part of the 3rd Army Corps within the Second Field Army, placing him directly under Deng's command.

Following the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Liu Huaqing transitioned to naval service. From 1954 to 1958, he pursued advanced studies in naval command at the Voroshilov Naval Academy in Leningrad, Soviet Union (now Saint Petersburg, Russia). During his time there, he was tutored by the esteemed Soviet Admiral Sergei Gorshkov, a highly influential figure in naval strategy. While studying in 1955, Liu Huaqing was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in the People's Liberation Army Navy.

Liu Huaqing in 1955, during his studies in the Soviet Union.

3. Naval Leadership and Modernization

Liu Huaqing's tenure as a naval leader was characterized by his relentless pursuit of a modern, globally capable Chinese navy. He laid down key strategic doctrines and initiated significant modernization programs that continue to influence China's naval development.

3.1. Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy

After returning from his studies in the Soviet Union, Liu Huaqing held a series of increasingly important roles within China's defense and naval establishment. From 1958 onwards, he served as the First Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Lushun Base, and later as Deputy Commander of the North Sea Fleet and Commander of the Lushun Base. He also served as the Director of the Ministry of National Defense's 7th Research Institute. In 1965, he was appointed Deputy Minister of the 6th Ministry of Machine Building and a Standing Committee member of its Party Committee, while continuing to concurrently serve as the Director of the 7th Research Institute. From 1966, he held positions as Deputy Director of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy. By 1975, he became a core leading group member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while maintaining his role as Deputy Director of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission. In 1979, he was appointed Assistant to the Navy Chief of Staff and then Deputy Chief of Staff.

In August 1982, Liu Huaqing was appointed Commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy, a position he held until January 1988. During this period, he also served as the Deputy Secretary of the Navy Party Committee. As Navy Commander, Liu was instrumental in guiding the early stages of the PLAN's modernization. He consistently advocated for technological innovation within China to enhance naval capabilities and also supported significant foreign purchases to accelerate the acquisition of advanced naval technologies.

3.2. Strategic Vision: Island Chains and Aircraft Carriers

Liu Huaqing is celebrated for his profound strategic vision that reshaped China's naval doctrine. In 1982, acting on instructions from Deng Xiaoping, Liu proposed the "First Island Chain" strategy, a foundational concept for China's naval expansion. He outlined a comprehensive three-step process aimed at transforming the Chinese navy into a global maritime force by the mid-21st century.

The first step, projected for 2000 to 2010, aimed for China to develop a naval force capable of operating effectively within the First Island Chain, which includes the areas extending from the Kuril Islands through Taiwan and the Philippines to Borneo. The second step, from 2010 to 2020, envisioned the Chinese navy evolving into a regional power with the capability to project force into the Second Island Chain, encompassing regions as far as Guam and the western Pacific Ocean. The final step, targeted for completion by 2040, aimed for China to possess a full-fledged blue-water navy, with aircraft carriers at its core. Liu Huaqing was a particularly strong and consistent advocate for the development of a Chinese aircraft carrier program, earning him the title "father of Chinese aircraft carriers." His strategic thinking also encompassed the importance of naval research and development, an area he was responsible for during the 1960s and 1970s before leading national military research.

4. Political and Military Leadership Roles

Beyond his direct naval command, Liu Huaqing ascended to significant political and military leadership positions within the Chinese Communist Party and the state apparatus, where he played a crucial role in shaping China's overall defense policy.

4.1. Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission

In September 1982, Liu Huaqing was elected as a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party at the 12th Party Congress. After stepping down from the Central Committee in September 1985 to become a member of the Party Central Advisory Commission, he returned to a powerful military leadership role in November 1987, becoming a member of the Party's Central Military Commission and concurrently serving as its Deputy Secretary-General. In April 1988, he was elected as a member of the State Central Military Commission by the 7th National People's Congress. In September of the same year, he was awarded the rank of General (上将, 上将_Shàngjiàng^Chinese).

Following the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre, Jiang Zemin assumed the position of Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission in November 1989. To balance the growing influence of the Yang brothers (Yang Shangkun and Yang Baibing) within the military, and to act as a guardian for Jiang Zemin, Deng Xiaoping appointed Liu Huaqing as Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission. Liu was seen as an "ambitionless, popular figure" who could provide stability and guidance to Jiang in military affairs. He was subsequently promoted to Vice Chairman of the State Central Military Commission on April 4, 1990.

4.2. Member of the Politburo Standing Committee

Liu Huaqing's political influence reached its peak in October 1992, when he was elevated to a member of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party at the 14th Central Committee's First Plenum. This promotion occurred after the expulsion of the Yang brothers from military leadership. At the same time, he was re-appointed as Vice Chairman of the Party Central Military Commission. His elevation to the Politburo Standing Committee was notably unique because he was an active military officer, a departure from typical practice after the 1990s. While military figures like Deng Xiaoping and Zhou Enlai had previously served on the Politburo Standing Committee, they were primarily political commissars or had semi-retired from active military command. Liu Huaqing's presence marked the last instance of an active military leader holding a seat in this top decision-making body until he left the Standing Committee in 1997. In March 1993, he was re-elected as Vice Chairman of the State Central Military Commission by the 8th National People's Congress.

Liu Huaqing officially retired after stepping down as Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission in March 1998. Despite his official retirement, he remained a prominent figure, appearing in uniform at commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army in Beijing in 2007, and again in Beijing during the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009.

5. Role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square Protests

Liu Huaqing played a direct and significant role during the imposition of martial law and the subsequent suppression of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

5.1. Command of Martial Law Forces

On June 3-4, 1989, Liu Huaqing served as the top commander of the troops enforcing martial law to suppress the Tiananmen Square protests. He commanded the forces, with General Chi Haotian serving as his deputy, during the violent crackdown that resulted in numerous casualties and widespread condemnation. His direct involvement in the suppression of the protests is a notable and controversial aspect of his career, marking him as one of the key military figures responsible for the actions taken during this period.

6. Strategic Thought and Doctrine

Liu Huaqing's strategic thought was profoundly influenced by his extensive military experience and his deep understanding of naval power. His doctrines focused on building a modern, capable Chinese navy to protect national interests and project power.

6.1. Influences and Formation

Liu Huaqing's strategic thinking was primarily shaped by two key influences: his education under Admiral Sergei Gorshkov at the Voroshilov Naval Academy and his long association with Deng Xiaoping. From Gorshkov, he absorbed the principles of modern naval command and the importance of a strong, technologically advanced fleet. From Deng Xiaoping, he received the political mandate and strategic direction to modernize the People's Liberation Army Navy and expand its operational reach. These influences combined to form his comprehensive vision for China's maritime future.

6.2. Key Concepts and Theories

Liu Huaqing's core strategic ideas centered on a phased development of China's naval power. He championed the "island chain" concept, which provided a geographical framework for China's defense and power projection capabilities in the near and distant seas. This concept envisioned the PLAN gradually expanding its operational capabilities from coastal defense to regional and eventually global reach. A central tenet of his strategy was the urgent need for China to acquire aircraft carriers, which he viewed as indispensable for a true blue-water navy. He promoted both domestic technological innovation to increase naval capabilities and advocated for large foreign purchases to bridge technological gaps, demonstrating a pragmatic approach to naval modernization. His theories laid the intellectual foundation for China's subsequent naval buildup and its assertive maritime strategy in the 21st century.

7. Personal Life

Liu Huaqing maintained a relatively private personal life, though some details regarding his family have emerged due to their own public profiles.

7.1. Family and Relationships

Liu Huaqing was married. He had a son, Liu Zhuoming, who followed in his footsteps and became a vice admiral in the People's Liberation Army Navy. His daughter, Liu Chaoying, was a former lieutenant colonel in the PLA. She gained public attention due to her involvement in the 1996 United States campaign finance controversy, which involved allegations of illegal contributions to American political campaigns.

8. Death, Evaluation, and Legacy

Liu Huaqing's passing marked the end of an era for the Chinese military, and his legacy continues to be debated, encompassing both his significant contributions to naval modernization and the controversial aspects of his political career.

8.1. Death

Liu Huaqing died on January 14, 2011, in Beijing, China, at the age of 94.

8.2. Assessment and Legacy

Liu Huaqing's historical standing is complex, reflecting his dual role as a visionary military modernizer and a participant in controversial political events.

8.2.1. Positive Contributions

Liu Huaqing is widely regarded as a pivotal figure in the development of the modern Chinese Navy. His foresight and unwavering advocacy for naval modernization earned him the titles "father of the modern Chinese Navy" and "father of Chinese aircraft carriers." He was instrumental in shaping China's maritime strategy, particularly with his articulation of the "island chain" concept and his persistent efforts to push for an aircraft carrier program. His work laid the crucial strategic and conceptual groundwork for China's emergence as a significant naval power.

His distinguished military career was recognized with several high honors:

August 1 Medal (2nd Class) in 1955.
Order of Independence and Freedom (2nd Class).
Order of Liberation (1st Class).
Order of the National Flag (1st Class) from North Korea in 1989.
Order of Friendship from the Russian Federation in 1999, for his contributions to strengthening Russia-China relations.

8.2.2. Criticisms and Controversies

Despite his acknowledged contributions to military modernization, Liu Huaqing's legacy is significantly complicated by his involvement in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. As the top commander of the martial law forces, he played a direct role in the military suppression of the student-led demonstrations. This action resulted in widespread casualties and drew international condemnation, raising serious human rights concerns. Critics point to his command during this period as a stark example of the military's role in suppressing dissent, which remains a deeply contentious issue in China's modern history.

8.3. Lasting Impact

Liu Huaqing's work left a profound and lasting impact on China's military and naval strategy. His vision for a blue-water navy, centered on aircraft carriers, materialized shortly after his death with the commissioning of China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning (formerly the Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag), in 2012. This event was a direct fulfillment of his long-held ambition and strategic planning. Furthermore, his unique position as the last active military officer to serve on the Politburo Standing Committee established a precedent for the relationship between the military and civilian leadership at the highest levels of the Chinese Communist Party, shaping how military influence is structured within China's political hierarchy to this day. His strategic concepts, particularly the island chain theory, continue to guide China's naval development and its assertive posture in regional and global maritime affairs.

9. External links

[http://www.china.com.cn/chinese/zhuanti/208110.htm Biography of Liu Huaqing (in Chinese)]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20090702161409/http://www.ndu.edu/inss/China_Center/CMA_Conf_Oct00/paper14.htm Ruminations about how little we know about the PLA Navy. Conference on Chinese Military Affairs, 10 October 2000]
[http://www.xjbz.gov.cn/ddh/communist/newfiles/o1061.html Biography of Liu Huaqing (in Chinese)]