Zhou Enlai

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Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) born into the Chinese gentry, a leading figure in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), premier of China (1949–1976), and foreign minister of the People's Republic of China (1949–1958). He played a significant role in the Chinese revolution and one of the great negotiators of the twentieth century. Arrested in 1920 for dissent and political agitation, he went to France when he was released and, while there, made his commitment to Communism. He returned to China in 1924 and participated in the National Revolution, led by Sun Yat-sen's Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) with the collaboration of the CCP and Russian assisstance. He was appointed deputy director of the political department at the Whampoa Military Academy and, in 1927, became director of the military department of the CCP. After organizing the workers of Shanghai for Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists, he fled to Wu-han, the center of Communist power, when Chiang purged his Communist allies. He was elected to the CCP Central Committee and its Politburo during the Party's Fifth National Congress, and helped organize the Nan-ch'ang Uprising, a Communist insurrection, in August 1927. He retreated again, this time to Shanghai via Hong Kong, after the Nationalists recaptured Nan-ch'ang. He returned to China in 1928, and eventually left Shanghai for Kiangsi province, where he Zhu De and Mao Zedong had been working to develop Communist rural bases (soviets). In 1932, Zhou succeeded Mao as the political commissar of the Red Army, commanded by Zhu De. The success of Chiang's campaigns finally forced a Communist retreat in 1934, and the Long March to the north of China began. Although Zhou had earlier sided with the CCP leaders who took control of the Kiangsi soviet from Mao, they became close associates. When the Long March ended in 1935 at the Communist base in Shensi province, Zhou became the CCP's chief negotiator and succeeded in forming an alliance with the Nationalists to resist Japan's aggression. When Chiang's generals arrested him in order to stop the CCP-Nationalist civil war, Zhou negotiated Chiang's release on the condition that he cease attacking the Communists and support the United Front. From the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War in 1937, Zhou became the CCP's chief representative to the Nationalist government, a position he held until 1943. After Japan surrendered in 1945, he accompanied Mao Zedong to peace talks arranged with Chiang Kai-shek. He was also an important figure in the negotiations with the Nationalists in 1946, and was a major factor in Chiang's eventual downfall in 1947. Zhou became the first premier of the Republic of China in October 1949, and served as the chief administrator of its huge civil bureaucracy. Between 1950 and 1964, he continued in his role as negotiator and traveled widely. He was also responsible for arranging and carrying out plans for the historic meeting between Mao Zedong and President Richard M. Nixon in 1972.

Zhou Enlai ( Chou En-lai) (b. 1898, d. 8 Jan. 1976). Premier of the People's Republic of China 1949–76 Born in Huaian (Jiangsu Province) into a wealthy Mandarin family, he studied in Japan and France, where he joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1922. After further study in Germany (1923–4), he returned to Guangzhou (Canton), where he was appointed commander of the political department of the Whampoa Military Academy, which was led by Chiang Kai-shek. He was dismissed by Chiang in 1926, whereupon he became head of the CCP's military department, in which capacity he took part in the first stage of the Northern Expedition, until the Guomintang's crackdown on the Communists in 1927. He went to Moscow as the party's representative to Comintern, but returned and joined the Jianxi Soviet in 1931. Although initially not an ally of Mao Zedong, he became his most important aide after Mao's assumption of the CCP leadership during the Long March in January 1935. In 1936, he led negotiations with Chang Hsüeh-liang about cooperation with the National Republican Army and, although not directly involved, he came to Chang's help at the Xi'an Incident. During the Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, he emerged as one of the principal political as well as military leaders, and became a chief negotiator with the Nationalists.

In the new People's Republic of China, Zhou served as Premier of the Government Administration Council and, from 1954, of the State Council. In these positions, he was responsible for the day-to-day execution of Mao's policies, which he accomplished with great skill. He was Foreign Minister until 1958, though he continued to be a major influence in China's foreign policy until his death. Thus, he brought the Korean War to an end in 1953, and succeeded in achieving membership of the UN in 1971, at the height of the Cultural Revolution. He survived the latter, and even used it to get rid of his closest rival, Lin Biao. Despite the fact that, as Mao's deputy, he bore substantial responsibility for the excesses of Mao's rule, most notably the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, he promoted a generation of more moderate leaders to high office, among them Deng Xiaoping. His death resulted in large protest demonstrations at Tiananmen Square.

Zhou Enlai or Chou En-lai , 1898–1976, Chinese Communist leader. A member of a noted Mandarin family, he was educated at an American-supported school in China and a university in Japan. His involvement in radical movements led to several months imprisonment. After his release he studied (1920–22) in France. A founder of the Chinese Communist party , he established (1922) the Paris-based Chinese Communist Youth Group. After a few months in England, he studied in Germany. Zhou returned (1924) to China and joined Sun Yat-sen , who was then cooperating with the Communists. He served (1924–26) as deputy director of the political department at the Whampoa Military Academy, of which Chiang Kai-shek was commandant. After the Northern Expedition began, he worked as a labor organizer. In 1927 he directed a general strike in Shanghai, opening the city to Chiang's Nationalist forces. When Chiang broke with the Communists, executing many of his former allies, Zhou became a fugitive from the Kuomintang . Later, holding prominent military and political posts in the Communist party, he participated in the long march (1934–35) to NW China. During the partial Communist-Kuomintang rapprochement (1936–46) he was the chief Communist liaison officer.

In 1949, with the establishment of the People's Republic of China at Beijing, Zhou became premier and foreign minister. He headed the Chinese Communist delegation to the Geneva Conference of 1954 and to the Bandung Conference (1955). In 1958 he relinquished the foreign ministry but retained the premiership. A practical-minded administrator, Zhou maintained his position through all of Communist China's ideological upheavals, including the Great Leap Forward (1958) and the Cultural Revolution (1966–76). Initially supportive of the latter, he was periodically attacked by Red Guards for attempting to shelter its victims. He was largely responsible for China's reestablishing contacts with the West in the early 1970s before becoming ill.

Bibliography: See biographies by D. W. Chang (1984), D. Wilson (1984), and G. Wenqian (2003, tr. 2007).

Zhou Enlai (or Chou En-lai) (1898–1976) Chinese Communist statesman, Prime Minister of China (1949–76). One of the founders of the Chinese Communist Party, he joined SUN YAT-SEN in 1924. In 1927 he organized a Communist workers' revolt in Shanghai in support of the KUOMINTANG forces surrounding the city. In the early 1930s he formed a partnership with MAO ZEDONG, supporting his rise to power within the Communist Party in 1935. On the formation of the People's Republic of China in 1949 Zhou became Premier and also served as Foreign Minister (1949–58). During the 1960s he continued to keep open communication channels with the USA, and he presided over the moves towards détente in 1972–73. He was also a moderating influence during the Cultural Revolution.

Zhou Enlai (1898–1976) Chinese statesman. Zhou was a founder of the Chinese Communist Party. As a member of the Communist-Kuomintang alliance (1924–27), he directed the general strike (1927) in Shanghai. When Chiang Kai-shek broke the alliance, Zhou joined the Long March (1934–35). He was the chief negotiator of a renewed peace (1936–46) with nationalist forces. After the establishment of a communist republic, Zhou became prime minister (1949–76) and foreign minister (1949–58). Although publicly supportive of the Cultural Revolution, he protected many of its intended victims.

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