Chen Shaokun

Chen Shaokun (; 20 April 1921 - 10 October 2020) was a Chinese army officer and politician who served as minister of Metallurgical Industry from 1975 to 1977. Prior to that, he was director of Political Department of Shenyang Military Region between 1969 and 1970 and deputy political commissar of Shenyang Military Region between 1969 and 1975.
Biography.
Chen was born in Suyu District of Suqian, Jiangsu, on April 20, 1921. After graduating from Suqian High School, he was admitted to Counter-Japanese Military and Political University. He enlisted in the Eighth Route Army in 1939, and joined the Communist Party of China in 1940.
Second Sino-Japanese War.
In 1940, he served in Sishu County () as party chief and deputy captain of guerrilla force. After that, he became director of Politieal Division of the New 1st Group Army.
Chinese Civil War.
In the early period of the Chinese Civil War, he was political commissar of the 15th Regiment of the 2nd Column in the and then political commissar of the 348th Regiment of the 116th Division in the 39th Group Army. He participated in the 1948 Battle of Jinzhou attacks led by Lin Biao and Luo Ronghuan in northeast China's Liaoning province. He also participated in the Pingjin campaign, Yangtze River Crossing Campaign, and Guangdong-Guangxi campaign.
Korean War.
After the outbreak of the Korean War, he was commissioned director of Political Department of the 116th Division of the 39th Group Army. His army overwhelmed the 8th Regiment of the 1st Cavalry Division of the United States Army during the Battle of Unsan. In 1952, he became deputy political commissar of the 117th Division, and in 1953 received a promotion to political commissar of 115th Division.
After returning to China, he became political commissar of 116th Division in 1954. In 1962, he was director of Political Department, deputy political commissar, and then political commissar of the 39th Group Army. He was promoted to the rank of major general ("Shaojiang") in 1964. In 1969, he was transferred to Shenyang Military Region and appointed deputy political commissar and director of Political Department. In February of the following year, he was assigned to the , where he was promoted to its head in 1970. He retired in 1977.
Death.
He died in Beijing on October 10, 2020, aged 99.
Personal life.
He married Yang Jingyuan (). Their son, (born 1955), is also a major general ("Shaojiang") in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China.