China’s leadership has paid tribute to Liao Xilong, praising the late general for his loyalty to the Communist Party and military service. The 85-year-old, who died on January 23, had his funeral on Thursday, just days after the downfall of the country’s top uniformed officer. State media described him as a time-tested and loyal communist warrior and an outstanding military commander.
China’s leadership paid tribute to Liao Xilong on January 29, describing the late People’s Liberation Army general as a “Communist warrior.” Liao, aged 85, died on January 23 and was in charge of overhauling military logistics. State news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday, the day of his funeral: “[Liao was] a time-tested and loyal communist warrior, an outstanding military commander, and an exemplary leader in advancing the comprehensive modernisation of military logistics.”
Liao was a veteran of the Sino-Vietnamese conflicts in the 1970s and 1980s, during which Zhang Youxia also saw combat. Born in Guizhou province, he served on the Central Military Commission and led the Chengdu Military Region. The praise for his party loyalty comes amid an anti-corruption campaign, shortly after the removal of the country’s top uniformed officer.
A related report noted that two top Chinese military generals were removed and placed under investigation for “serious violations,” highlighting ongoing purges in the armed forces. Liao’s death and the tributes underscore the leadership’s emphasis on loyal figures even as high-level turbulence persists in the military.
