The Merger of the Chengdu and Kunming Military Regions
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ON MAY 20, 1985, several military airliners landed one after another at Beijing Xijiao Airport. First to land were the commanders and commissars from each armed service and military region and following them were the chief officers of institutions above corps level. The two groups were called together to Beijing Jingxi Hotel for an extended meeting of the Military Commission.
After a more than a year of preparations, arguments and discussion, the plan for large-scale systemic reform and troop reorganization was to be confirmed. Which four of the eleven military regions would be suddenly merged? Who would be left and who would leave? Who would be promoted and who would be demoted? These decisions were about to be announced.
Unsurprisingly, not one of the commanders and commissars of the eleven military regions were against reform and reorganization. Each of them had made it clear that they would absolutely obey the decision, no matter which region was abolished, but in the depths of their heart they fervently hoped that their own region would not be merged.
As the saying goes, one loves one's own child the most. Military leaders had built and diligently commanded their unit; for them it was like their child and so occupied a special place in their hearts. Over the previous six months each leader attending the meeting had discussed the plan and the Military Commission had come up with an initial strategy. Some military regions which were likely to be abolished had accordingly made preparations. But at the same time, they also could not refrain from arguing the many reasons to preserve their own region. If someone said that their troops were stationed in strategic towns at key borders, another would say their troops were located at the material distribution hub advantageous for the stationing of troops; that their troops were general reserves and were well prepared for operations in several directions … As they boarded the plane, even leaders from those regions which were unlikely to be preserved cherished a hope that they would be lucky.
Military science is a discipline based on experience but this experience could not be acquired until a real war broke out. Therefore, no theory or strategy was absolutely accurate. This was also true for the science of organizing military regions. However, we could not wait for definitive proof to take action. Once, when discussing the issue of downsizing, Deng Xiaoping said: "Determination is the most important factor, being meticulous in our work is almost as important. Yet however carefully we work, there will inevitably be something we would not have considered. This must be clear at the outset."
Zhang Zhixiu, the commander of Kunming Military Region was relatively unperturbed. According to the Military Commission's initial plan for reform, the Kunming Military Region and the Chengdu Military Region would be consolidated into a New Kunming Military Region. The new leading group would be located in Kunming and would consist mainly of department leaders from the former Kunming Military Region. The reason was obvious; Kunming was located close to the border between China and Vietnam. There had been continued conflict since the Sino-Vietnamese War in 1979 and it was the only region where there was still the expectation of combat engagement. During Spring Festival of that year, Party General Secretary Hu Yaobang, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Yang Shangkun and Director of the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army Yu Qiuli inspected and praised this frontline military region. Furthermore, the Party General Secretary wrote "The Southwest best represents our national prestige and military prowess" on a banner for the troops in the region. This could be interpreted as a sign that the Kunming Military Region would be preserved. The aforementioned scheme was not yet finalized, but following the meeting of all the chiefs of staff in April, it had not been changed. Zhang and Commissar Xie Zhenhua therefore had made full preparations to accept staff from the Chengdu Military Region. When they boarded the plane in Kunming they were accompanied by the chiefs of the Department of Military Affairs and of Department of Personnel who had brought a scheme of acceptance with them in order to discuss it with leaders from the Chengdu Military Region.
On May 23, the list detailing the leaders of the new military regions was published by the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission. Zhang Zhixiu was not in the list, despite the previous information indicating that he would remain in office. This was no small change but for the person concerned, the reasoning behind it was obvious. He was already seventy-one years old; even though he held office, he was only a transitional leader, so it was better to retire early. So he was the same as ever; continuing to visit the theater and play Chinese chess. In short, he was in high spirits.
The extended meeting of the Central Military Commission ran smoothly. Just as Deng Xiaoping had said, it was "a universally approved decision." He was pleased both with the new group of leaders and with the attitude and bearing of the now retired senior comrades. The second session of the meeting, enlarged to include leaders of corps level, was brought forward from the planned date of May 31 to May 26.
On the morning of June 3, the Standing Committee of the Central Military Commission held a meeting to discuss opinions regarding the plan for reduction and reorganization. After once again exploring the topic, the decision made this time was final.
After lunch that afternoon, Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Military Commission and Director of the Logistics Department of PLA Hong Xuezhi visited Commander of the Chengdu Military Region Wang Chenghan in his room. Closing the door, Hong said in a low voice: "Wang, sir, the plan has been decided —the plan was changed …"
