National Office
Yang took over from Deng Xiaoping as PLA Chief-of-Staff in February 1980, joined the standing committee of the CCP Military Affairs Commission and was named a Vice Minister of National Defense a month later. He was a member of the 11th and 12th politburos, 1977-87.
Yang Dezhi was awarded the rank of General in 1955, and served as an Alternate Member of the 8th Central Committee (1956–69). He was elevated to full membership at the 9th CC in 1969 and retained that status through the 12th CC (1982–87), where he served as a Full Politburo member. General Yang also served on the CC Secretariat, February 1980-September 1982, and on the Military Affairs Committee, from 1980 to 1987. He was Vice Minister of National Defence during much of the 1980s.
General Yang Dezhi retired from his party and military posts in November 1987, together with Marshals Xu Xiangqian and Nie Rongzhen, Defense Minister Zhang Aiping and General Political Department Director Yu Qiuli. Yang is reported to have signed a plea to avoid using military force against demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989, a letter to the MAC said to have been signed by seven retired military officers including Zhang Aiping, Xiao Ke, Chen Zaidao and Song Shilun.
Read more about this topic: Yang Dezhi
Famous quotes containing the words national and/or office:
“While I do not think it was so intended I have always been of the opinion that this turned out to be much the best for me. I had no national experience. What I have ever been able to do has been the result of first learning how to do it. I am not gifted with intuition. I need not only hard work but experience to be ready to solve problems. The Presidents who have gone to Washington without first having held some national office have been at great disadvantage.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“Consul. In American politics, a person who having failed to secure an office from the people is given one by the Administration on condition that he leave the country.”
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914)