Zhao Nanqi

This is a Chinese and Korean name; the family name is Zhao (Cho). Zhao Nanqi (; 20 April 1927 – 17 June 2018), or Cho Nam-gi , was a General of the People's Republic of China and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from 1998 to 2003, and Vice-chairman of the 5th National People's Congress.

Born in Japanese-ruled Korea, he moved to Jilin, China as a child. He distinguished himself as a logistics officer of the People's Volunteer Army during the Korean War. After the war, he served in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Jilin Military District and as Vice Governor of Jilin province. He later served in top leadership positions in the PLA as Director of the General Logistics Department (1987–1992), member of the Central Military Commission, and President of the PLA Academy of Military Science (1992–1995). He attained the top military rank of General in 1988. From 1998 to 2003, he served as a Vice Chairperson of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Early life Cho Nam-gi (Zhao Nanqi in Mandarin Chinese) was born on 20 April 1927 in Cheongwon County in Korea under Japanese rule (in present-day Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea). Due to Japanese colonial policies that required Koreans to use Japanese-style names, he also adopted the Japanese surname Toyoda (豊田).

In 1939, Zhao's family moved to Manchukuo, the Japanese-controlled puppet state in Northeast China, and settled in Yongji County, Jilin Province. When Japan surrendered in 1945 at the end of World War II, Chinese rule was restored in Northeast China and Korea regained its independence. Many Koreans in China returned to Korea, but Zhao's family stayed and was recognized as Chaoxianzu (Chinese of Korean ethnicity).

Korean War

When China resolved to intervene in the Korean War in October 1950, Zhao was deployed to Korea because of his proficiency in the Korean language. He served in the logistics department of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) alongside Mao Anying, the son of Chairman Mao Zedong. He was persecuted during the early Cultural Revolution, but was rehabilitated and appointed Political Commissar of the Tonghua Military Subdistrict in 1973. He was later promoted to Deputy Political Commissar and then Commissar of the Jilin Military District.

In the 1980s, Zhao was the only Chinese military leader who concurrently served in important provincial civilian positions. He became Vice Governor of Jilin Province in April 1980 and was appointed Chinese Communist Party Deputy Committee Secretary of Jilin in October 1981, serving until 1985.

Personal life Zhao was married to Lin Chunshu (林春淑), a fellow Korean War veteran.