Chen Shaokuan (; October 7, 1889 – July 30, 1969) was a Chinese Fleet Admiral who served as the senior commander of Chinese naval forces of the National Revolutionary Army during the

Second Sino-Japanese War The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

Early life and career

Chen Shaokuan was born on 7 October 1889 in Chengmen Village (now Chengmenzhen) in Min County, Fuzhou. Chen's father served in the

Imperial Chinese Navy The Imperial Chinese Navy was the modern navy of the Qing dynasty of China established in 1875. An Imperial naval force in China first came into existence from 1132 during the Song dynasty and existed in some form until the end of the Qing dynasty ...

, originally having a career in carpenting. He took an interest to his father's occupation, attending the Jiangnan Naval Academy in

Nanjing Nanjing (; , Mandarin pronunciation: ), alternately romanized as Nanking, is the capital of Jiangsu province of the People's Republic of China. It is a sub-provincial city, a megacity, and the second largest city in the East China region. T ...

at the age of 17. At 20 years old he graduated from the academy and was assigned to the training cruiser Tongji, then in 1910 he served aboard the Jingqing. Rising up the ranks, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on the eve of

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

in 1914, now serving for the navy of the Republic of China.

World War I

Since China was mainly neutral during WW1, Chen had limited involvement in the war. In an event unrelated to the war, he was once again promoted, this time as a commander, now assigned to the Zhaohe. He witnessed naval combat for the first time after visiting the United States and United Kingdom onboard British warships despite the many dangers that he would have faced at the time. Chen also served as a naval attaché to France, Italy and the United Kingdom.

Interwar period

Chen Shaokuan joined the National Revolutionary Army in 1927, becoming Deputy Director of the Navy Department in 1929, then head of the Navy Department in 1932. He also served as a member of the

Military Affairs Commission The Military Affairs Commission (MAC) of the National Government, chaired by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek during the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, directed the command of the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China. ...

of the National Government and an executive member of the Central Committee of the KMT.

Second Sino-Japanese War

With the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Chen worked to organize waterborne and coastal defenses, including closing off the Yangtze River, for the protection of the capital of Nanjing. In 1938, he was promoted to Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. After the National Government moved its capital to Chongqing, he actively organized navy guerrillas behind enemy lines to fight the enemy and cooperate with the various battlefield operations throughout the country. He was relieved from duty by Chiang Kai-shek in 1945 after unsuccessfully attempting to request for peaceful conclusions to conflicts during the

Chinese Civil War The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...

and budget for building aircraft carriers for the Republic of China Navy. Towards the end of the Civil War in April 1949, it was reported that Zhu Shaoliang asked Chen to retreat to Taiwan with the remnants of the Republic of China and Chen persistently refused his offer.

Establishment of the People's Republic of China

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Chen Shaokuan was appointed as a member of the East China Military and Political Committee, Vice Chairman of the Fujian Provincial People's Government, Vice Governor, Vice Chairman of the People's Revolution Central Committee, etc., and was elected as a representative of the first, second and third National People's Congress, a member of the Plenipotentiary, and a member of the National Defense Committee of the People's Republic of China. In 1969, he died of stomach cancer at the age of 80.

External links

*http://ww2db.com/person_bio.php?person_id=704 Republic of China Navy admirals Chinese military personnel of World War II People's Republic of China politicians from Fujian 1889 births 1969 deaths Politicians from Fuzhou Generals from Fujian Admirals of World War II {{China-mil-bio-stub