Xing Shizhong

Xing Shizhong (1938–2019) was a Chinese military leader and politician. Born in September 1938 in Licheng, Shandong, he joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in 1953 and graduated from the PLA Nanjing Engineering Institute in 1956. He became a member of the Chinese Communist Party in 1957. Throughout his career, Xing served as an engineering officer and regimental commander in the Guangzhou Military Region. He was associated with Generals Zhang Wannian and Fu Quanyou and fought in the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War, where his performance led to promotions to division commander and later corps commander.

Xing held several high-ranking positions, including Chief of Staff (1985–1988) and deputy commander of the Lanzhou Military Region. He was promoted to major general in 1988 and lieutenant general in 1993. From 1995 to 2002, he served as president of the PLA National Defence University, a key institution for training top military officers. He was elevated to full general in March 1998.

Politically, Xing was a member of the 15th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (1997–2002) and a delegate to multiple National People's Congresses. In 1996, he authored an article in *Qiushi* opposing the "China threat theory," arguing it was rooted in Western imperialist logic and used to justify global conflicts.

Xing passed away in Beijing on March 11, 2019, at the age of 80.