Wu Faqi

Wu Faqi (simplified Chinese: 吴法宪; traditional Chinese: 吳法憲; pinyin: Wú Fǎxiàn; 1915 – October 17, 2004) was a Chinese Communist revolutionary and military commander. He is best known for his high-ranking positions in the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and his subsequent downfall as a member of the Lin Biao clique during the Cultural Revolution.

Wu joined the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1930 and participated in the Long March. During the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, he served as a political commissar in various military units.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Wu Faqi rose through the ranks of the PLAAF, eventually becoming its political commissar in 1957. He held this position for over a decade and was instrumental in the PLAAF's modernization and expansion.

During the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), Wu became closely associated with Lin Biao, then Vice Chairman of the CCP and Minister of National Defense. Wu's position and influence grew significantly, and he became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee. He was seen as a key figure in Lin Biao's power base within the military.

Following Lin Biao's death in a plane crash in 1971 after a failed alleged coup attempt against Mao Zedong, Wu Faqi was purged from the CCP and the military. He was accused of being a member of the "Lin Biao counter-revolutionary clique" and was expelled from the Party.

In 1981, Wu was brought to trial along with other members of the Lin Biao and Jiang Qing cliques. He was convicted of counter-revolutionary crimes and sentenced to 17 years in prison.

Wu Faqi was released from prison in 1989 and lived in relative obscurity until his death in 2004. His career is a significant example of the political volatility and the consequences of factional struggles during the Cultural Revolution. His autobiography, published after his release, provided a controversial account of his experiences and perspectives on the events of that period.