# Liu Yazhou

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Chinese People's Liberation Army general (born 1952)

In this [Chinese name](/source/Chinese_name), the [family name](/source/Chinese_surname) is *[Liu](/source/Liu)*.

Air Force General Liu Yazhou 刘亚洲 Political Commissar of the PLA National Defence University In office December 2009 – 26 February 2017 Preceded by Tong Shiping Succeeded by Wu Jieming Political Commissar of the Chengdu Military Region Air Force [zh] In office January 2002 – December 2003 Preceded by Feng Yongsheng [zh] Succeeded by Wang Yufa Personal details Born (1952-10-19) 19 October 1952 (age 73) Fenghua County, Zhejiang, China Party Chinese Communist Party Spouse Li Xiaolin Children 1 Alma mater Wuhan University Military service Allegiance People's Republic of China Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force Years of service 1968–2017 Rank Air Force General Chinese name Simplified Chinese 刘亚洲 Traditional Chinese 劉亞洲 Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Liú Yǎzhōu

**Liu Yazhou** ([Chinese](/source/Simplified_Chinese_characters): 刘亚洲; born 19 October 1952) is a former general of the Chinese [People's Liberation Army Air Force](/source/People's_Liberation_Army_Air_Force) (PLAAF), and the [political commissar](/source/Political_commissar) of the [PLA National Defence University](/source/PLA_National_Defence_University) from 2009 to 2017. Liu is the [son-in-law](/source/Son-in-law) of former Chinese president [Li Xiannian](/source/Li_Xiannian). He is known for his [hawkish](/source/Hawkish) views on the defense and strategic posture he believes China should adopt. In 2023 he was given a suspended death sentence for corruption.[1]

## Background and career

Liu was born in 1952 in [Fenghua](/source/Fenghua), [Ningbo](/source/Ningbo), [Zhejiang](/source/Zhejiang). Liu Yazhou has been described as a "[princeling](/source/Princeling)": his father was a senior military officer and his father-in-law was [Li Xiannian](/source/Li_Xiannian), one of the [Chinese Communist Party](/source/Chinese_Communist_Party)'s *[Eight Immortals](/source/Eight_Elders)* and [president of China](/source/President_of_China) in the era of [Deng Xiaoping](/source/Deng_Xiaoping).[2] This privileged political pedigree has given him a greater platform for his views and opinions. His writings "have dazzled as well as upset his readers; supporters praise his boldness and insight, and detractors condemn his alleged militarism and demagoguery."[3]

Liu has written novels and essays to both acclaim and controversy. As a prominent military figure in China, he is unusual for his outspoken views and apparent violation of a number of taboos on political discourse.[3]

At the same time, his prolific writing may have partly contributed to his rise through the ranks.[4] He leans on the sayings of former Chinese leaders to make indirect criticisms of Chinese Communist Party policies. Unlike many PLA officials, Liu has traveled much overseas, including serving as a visiting professor at [Stanford University](/source/Stanford_University).[3]

In 2010 Liu was promoted by deputy political commissar of the PLA Air Force, to political commissar of NDU, the premier academic and defense research institute in China. Prior to that Liu was the director of the political division of the Beijing Military Region, the political commissar of the Chengdu Military Region's Air Force, and the deputy political commissar of the PLA Air Force.[5]

News of Liu's sudden disappearance in 2021 until March 24, 2023, when the Hong Kong media Ming Pao reported that Liu might be given a heavier sentence of "death penalty with a two-year reprieve" (death sentence with reprieve) by the authorities due to his involvement in a serious corruption case. According to Ming Pao Daily News, Liu Yazhou is suspected of amassing huge wealth on behalf of foundations and associations and committing a serious corruption case, and may be given a heavy sentence of "death penalty with a two-year reprieve" by the authorities, and it is reported that Liu Yazhou is likely to spend the rest of his life in prison. Ming Pao also quoted a source as saying that Liu's wife, Li Xiaolin, daughter of former President Li Xiannian, was "safe and unaffected".[6] China's "Red Culture Website" 红色文化 published a series of articles signed with the pseudonym "He Lanfeng", criticizing Liu Yazhou for advocating Western civilization's concepts of universal values such as "humanity, human rights, human nature, democracy, and freedom", and for being "a typical ambitious and conspiratorial person."[7] On 13 April 2023, Sing Tao Daily reported that the Discipline Inspection Commission of the Central Military Commission (CMCDI) had completed its investigation into Liu Yazhou around the Spring Festival of 2023, and that Liu Yazhou had been double-expelled and also transferred to the military's judicial system for processing. At the same time, the Chinese military issued a notice in late February 2023 requiring the removal of "Liu Yazhou's harmful information" in March, and requesting all units to remove books, newspapers, periodicals, articles, inscriptions, speeches, etc. involving Liu Yazhou by way of self-checking against the "Statistical Table of Liu-Related Information".[9] The Chinese military also issued a notice in late February 2023 requiring the removal of "Liu Yazhou's harmful information" in March.

## Comments on democracy and reform

Liu Yazhou made headlines in the West in 2010 when he made a series of public remarks about democracy in China. "Democracy is the most urgent; without it there is no sustainable rise. Ideals of democracy are not restricted by national borders, or by historical ones," he said in August 2010, in an article in the Hong Kong magazine Phoenix Weekly.[2]

Remarks like this led to Liu gaining a reputation as an "outspoken" and "reformist" general.

"If a system fails to let its citizens breathe freely and release their creativity to the maximum extent, and fails to place those who best represent the system and its people into leadership positions, it is certain to perish," he wrote.[2]

In an alleged internal speech in August 2013, Liu argues that reforms in China are now in "deep water" and that the country can no longer "cross the river by feeling for stones," as Party patriarch [Deng Xiaoping](/source/Deng_Xiaoping) put it in the early period of growth of the 1990s. Liu suggests that further reforms require political change, and ultimately even competitive elections.[8]

## Hawkish stance

Liu's hawkishness can also differ from the more explicitly militarized claims of propaganda figures like [Dai Xu](/source/Dai_Xu) and [Zhang Zhaozhong](/source/Zhang_Zhaozhong_(military_official)). In an essay titled “The Grand National Strategy" written in the wake of the [September 11 terrorist attacks](/source/September_11_attacks), Liu argued against taking advantage of the fallout of the attack to attempt to conquer Taiwan. He advocated "diplomacy over fighting," and suggested the exploitation of Taiwan's political system over strongarm tactics.[3]

For this, analyst [Alfred L. Chan](/source/Alfred_L._Chan) calls him a "nationalist and a realist."

## Personal life

Liu's wife is [Li Xiaolin](/source/Li_Xiaolin_(politician)), daughter of [Li Xiannian](/source/Li_Xiannian), the [President of China](/source/President_of_China) under [Deng Xiaoping](/source/Deng_Xiaoping)'s leadership.

## Selected works

- *Win in Air Supremacy* (赢在制空权), 2014.

- *Considerations on the War Dead in the First Sino-Japanese War* (甲午殇思), 2014.

- ' 'Foreword to Liu Mingfu, China Dream [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1627741408](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1627741408), 2015

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-:an_1-0)** ["General Liu Yazhou, an admirer of Christianity, sentenced to death"](https://www.asianews.it/news-en/General-Liu-Yazhou,-an-admirer-of-Christianity,-sentenced-to-death-58238.html#google_vignette). *Asianews*. April 21, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_2-2) Garnaut, John (August 12, 2010). ["China must reform or die"](http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-must-reform-or-die-20100811-11zxd.html). *Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved August 25, 2014.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_3-3) Chan, Alfred. ["A Young Turk in China's Establishment: The Military Writings of Liu Yazhou"](http://www.jamestown.org/single/?no_cache=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=3891#.U_vw3PldV8E). *China Brief*. Jamestown Foundation. Retrieved August 25, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Bo, Zhiyua (1 March 2012). ["XI JINPING AND HIS MILITARY TIES"](http://www.eai.nus.edu.sg/BB702.pdf) (PDF). *EAI Background Brief No. 702*. EAI. Retrieved August 29, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["刘亚洲上将：我空军再次面临紧急关头"](http://military.people.com.cn/n/2014/0607/c1011-25116142.html). *People's Daily*. 2014-06-07. Retrieved August 30, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["劉亞洲料於牢獄度殘年"](https://www.mingpaocanada.com/van/htm/News/20230324/tcae1_r.htm). *明报加西网*. 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2024-01-26.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["劉亞洲上將落馬移交司法"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230417011036/https://www.stheadline.com/article/3220005/%E5%8A%89%E4%BA%9E%E6%B4%B2%E4%B8%8A%E5%B0%87%E8%90%BD%E9%A6%AC%E7%A7%BB%E4%BA%A4%E5%8F%B8%E6%B3%95). *星島日報*. 2023-04-13. Archived from [the original](https://www.stheadline.com/article/3220005/%E5%8A%89%E4%BA%9E%E6%B4%B2%E4%B8%8A%E5%B0%87%E8%90%BD%E9%A6%AC%E7%A7%BB%E4%BA%A4%E5%8F%B8%E6%B3%95) on 2023-04-17. Retrieved 2023-04-13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Liu, Yazhou (August 24, 2013). ["Internal Speech: NEW THINKING FOR CHINA'S POLITICAL REFORM"](http://www3.nd.edu/~pmoody/Text%20Pages%20-%20Peter%20Moody%20Webpage/Liu%20Yazhou.pdf) (PDF). Boxun. Retrieved August 29, 2014.

Military offices Preceded by Feng Yongsheng [zh] Political Commissar of the Chengdu Military Region Air Force [zh] 2002–2003 Succeeded by Wang Yufa Preceded by Tong Shiping Political Commissar of the PLA National Defence University 2009–2017 Succeeded by Wu Jieming

v t e Anti-corruption campaign under Xi Jinping (2022–present) Campaign oversight Xi Jinping (Central Committee General Secretary) Li Xi (Central Commission for Discipline Inspection Secretary; Central Leading Group for Inspection Work Leader) Liu Jinguo (National Supervisory Commission Director) Zhang Shengmin (Military Discipline Secretary) Implicated people (full list) Central Committee members Bi Jingquan Che Dalha Ding Laihang Gou Zhongwen He Hongjun He Weidong Hu Henghua Jiang Chaoliang Jin Xiangjun Lan Tianli Li Chuanguang Li Shangfu Lin Xiangyang Liu Yazhou Liu Zhenli Luo Baoming Ma Xingrui Miao Hua Sun Shaocheng Sun Zhigang Tang Renjian Wang Chunning Wang Lixia Wang Xiangxi Wang Xiaodong Wang Xiubin Wang Yilin Wei Fenghe Wu Yingjie Yang Fasen Yi Huiman Yi Lianhong Yuan Huazhi Zhang Youxia Zhou Yaning Central Committee alternate members Ding Yexian Fang Hongwei Han Yong Jiang Zhigang Jin Donghan Kou Wei Li Shisong Li Yuchao Liu Hui Liu Shiquan Tang Yijun Ulan Wu Cunrong Xu Liuping Ye Hongzhuan Zhang Zhenzhong Zhu Zhisong Central organs and State-owned enterprises An Jin Fan Yifei Gao Yichen Gu Jun Jiao Xiaoping Kou Wei He Zhiliang [zh] Li Gang Li Xiaohong Lian Ji Ling Chengxing Liu Shaoyong Pan Liang Ren Jianxin Tan Ruisong Tang Shuangning Tian Wei Tian Xuebin Wang Jianjun Wang Xiangxi Wang Wenling [zh] Wu Yansheng [zh] Xu Heyi Xu Ying Yang Xiaowei Zhang Gengsheng Zhang Shiping Zhong Ziran Zhou Liang Officials of Provincial-ministerial rank1 (incl. sub-provincial) Bao Hui Bi Baowen Cao Weidong Che Dalha Chen Jixing Chen Weijun Chen Xiaobo Chen Yan Chen Yujian Cui Baohua Cui Maohu Dai Beifang Dai Daojin Ding Yexian Dong Yunhu Dou Wangui Du Yubo Du Zhaocai Du Zi Fang Hongwei Fei Gaoyun Fu Zhongwei Gao Peng Gao Xingfu Guo Yonghang Han Song Hong Lihe Hu Qiang Hu Youtao Huang Sanping Ji Binchang Ji Guogang Jiang Deguo Jiang Duntao Jiang Hongwei Jiang Jie Jin Zhizhen Lei Siwei Li Chunsheng Li Haitao Li Jinzhu Li Pengxin Li Wei Li Weiwei Li Xiangang Li Xiaopeng Li Xu Lian Ji Liu Xingtai Li Yuefeng Li Zaiyong Liu Liange Liu Mancang Liu Yuejin Liu Zhiqiang Long Xiang Lu Kehua Luo Baoming Luo Lin Luo Yulin Luo Zengbin Ma Fengsheng Ni Qiang Peng Guofu Peng Xiaochun Qi Tongsheng Qin Rupei Qu Min Shang Liguang Song Chaohua Su Zengtian Sun Shutao Sun Yuning Tang Dezhi Tang Yijun Ulan Wang Bo Wang Fengchao Wang Huimin Wang Jun Wang Xuefeng Wang Wenhua Wang Yong Wang Yixin Wei Xiaodong Wu Cunrong Wu Shenghua Wu Yingjie Xiao Jie Xiong Xue Xu Chuanzhi Xu Xianping Yang Fasen Yang Kening Yang Zixing Yao Yuzhou Yue Puyu Ye Hanbing Ye Hongzhuan Yi Huiman Yi Pengfei Yin Jianye Yin Meigen Zhang Jianlong Zhang Xiaolian Zhang Xiaopei Zhang Xiulong Zhang Zulin Zhao Jinyun Zheng Hong Zhou Derui Zhou Jiabin Zhou Jiankun Zhou Xi'an Zhou Xianwang Zhu Changjie Zhu Congjiu Military generals2 Deng Zhiping Ding Laihang Gao Daguang He Hongjun Li Chuanguang Li Hanjun [zh] Li Yuchao Li Tongjian (李同建) Lin Xiangyang Liu Shiquan Lü Hong (吕宏) Ju Xinchun Miao Hua Qin Shutong Rao Wenmin (饶文敏) Wang Chunning Wang Houbin Wang Xiubin Wang Zhibin You Haitao Yuan Huazhi Zhang Lin Zhang Yulin Zhang Zhenzhong Zhou Yaning Officials at Prefecture-level rank1 or below Ao Liuquan Bademala Chen Jinhu Deng Zhenxiao Duan Chenggang Fan Zhongjie Guoguo Han Zhanwu Hao Hongjun He Zehua Huang Fangfang‎ Jiao Lansheng Jin Shouhao Ju Xiaoyang Kong Xiaohong Lai Zehua Lei Shaoye Li Chunliang Li Hongming Li Tao Liu Handong Liu Jiachen Liu Kuanren Liu Ming Liu Wenxin Liu Zhiren Long Xiaohua Mao Tengfei‎ Miao Xuegang Mo Hua Qi Jianxin Tang Zhiguo Wang Hao Wang Qun Wang Shanping Wang Xiliang Wang Xinghuan Wang Zhonghe Wei Gang [zh] Wei Weihan Wen Bin [zh] Xiang Chengqiang Yang Jian Ye Libin Yishi Dawa Ying Yuying Yu Wenming Yuan Yanwen Yue Wenhai Zhang Fusheng Zhang Jianchun Zhao Changfu Zhao Shihong Zheng Renhao Zhong Yang Zhu Shixi Zhu Zhisong Business, banks, sports universities, media Chen Xuyuan Dong Zheng [zh] Du Zhaocai Gu Xiaoyuan Guo Xueyi [zh] Hao Rong Hou Weidong Jin Donghan Li Jiping Li Tie Li Yaguang Li Yong Lin Jingzhen Liu Liange Liu Yi [zh] Lou Wenlong Ren Yuzhong Shi Zuyi Tong Jilu Wang Hanqing Yu Hongchen [zh] Zhang Jun Zhang Yaoxue Related articles Corruption in China Extraordinary rendition Eight-point Regulation Human rights in China Judicial system of China Law enforcement in China National security of China Operation Fox Hunt Qincheng Prison Shuanggui Arctic Catfish scandal 2023 People's Liberation Army Rocket Force corruption case 2012–2017 2017–2022 PB Former member of the Politburo; PLA Also a military official; CDI Member of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection or affiliates 1For details on the civil service ranks of officials, please see Civil Service of China; 2Army generals listed have attained at least the rank of Major General, which usually enjoys the same administrative privileges as a civilian official of sub-provincial rank.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Liu Yazhou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Yazhou) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liu_Yazhou?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.