Yu Zhenying

Yu Zhenying (1902 – 22 May 1960), born Yu Fangdan (方單), courtesy name Haicheng (海澄), and better known by his art name Zhenying (振瀛), was a Chinese politician from Shaanxi, he was one of the founders of the Three Principles of the People Comrades Association and served as a standing member of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Central Committees of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang.

Biography

Yu was born in 1902 in Shanxi, his father was a member of Tongmenghui, he later married to Chen Jianchen.

In 1926, Yu was appointed chairman of the Shaanxi Provincial Executive Committee of the Kuomintang (KMT). Following the Shanghai massacre in 1927, he broke with Chiang Kai-shek's leadership and organized cadre training programs in Shaanxi aimed at cultivating politically committed youth. He was subsequently arrested and imprisoned by the Chiang government. In 1948, together with Liu Zhongrong, Liu Zhonghua, and Tan Tiwu, he played a role in intensifying political competition between Li Zongren of the Guangxi clique and Sun Fo of the Chiang Kai-shek faction during the vice-presidential election. These developments further exacerbated divisions between Chiang Kai-shek and Li Zongren.

Following the Nationalist defeat in the Huaihai Campaign, Li Zongren forced Chiang Kai-shek to resign from the presidency, creating expanded political space for opposition activities. Within the Legislative Yuan, Yu joined Li Renren, Tan Tiwu, Chen Jianchen, and others in forming the Three Principles of the People Comrades Association Political Action Group, which sought to exploit internal KMT divisions through legislative proposals, interpellations, public statements, and organized forums that criticized the Nationalist government.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Yu Zhenying took part in political campaigns targeting perceived ideological deviations within the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (RCCK), particularly during the Anti-Rightist Campaign. Serving as a deputy director of the RCCK Central Rectification Office under Xiong Kewu, Yu participated in internal investigations and criticism sessions directed at senior party members.

During a rectification meeting in 1957, Yu publicly criticized Chen Mingshu, accusing him of maintaining anti-Communist views and of engaging in inappropriate contacts with former Nationalist intelligence figures, including Zheng Jiemin, during and after the Huaihai Campaign. Yu alleged that Chen had attempted to introduce Zheng into Minlian-affiliated political activities, concealed the dispatch of former Military Statistics Bureau agents under Minlian auspices, and maintained contacts with foreign representatives such as U.S. diplomat John Leighton Stuart. Yu cited these actions as evidence of Chen's ideological opposition to Communist participation in democratic parties.

Yu Zhenying died of esophageal cancer in Beijing on 22 May 1960. A public memorial service was held on 25 May at Jiaxing Temple, presided over by Cai Tingkai, with a eulogy delivered by Zhu Yunshan. Attendees included Zhang Zhizhong, Shao Lizi, Chen Shaoxian, representatives of the CCP United Front Work Department, leaders of other democratic parties, RCCK officials in Beijing, and more than 300 associates. Yu was buried at the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in Beijing.