28th Army
The 28th Group Army was a Chinese People's Liberation Army army corps that operated from 1949 until its dissolution in 1998.
Last updated October 5, 2026
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Overview
The 28th Group Army was an army corps of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), rather than a commercial brand. It was created in February 1949 from the 10th Column of the East China Field Army during the final phase of the Chinese Civil War. The formation inherited a lineage reaching back to guerrilla forces associated with the Eighth Route Army in the Bohai Military District of Shandong during the Second Sino-Japanese War. At formation, it consisted of the 82nd, 83rd and 84th Divisions and had approximately 34,000 troops. The unit participated in several major campaigns before and after its formal designation as the 28th Army. Its predecessor formation fought at Laiwu, Tai'an and Menglianggu in 1947, supported the advance into the Dabie Mountains, and operated along the Longhai Railway. In 1948 it took part in fighting in the border areas of southern Henan, northern Anhui and northern Jiangsu, as well as the capture of Kaifeng and Jinan and the Liaoshen Campaign. After its establishment as the 28th Army, it crossed the Yangtze River at Jiangyin in April 1949 and participated in the Shanghai Campaign, capturing Taicang and Jiading. It subsequently moved into Fujian and helped capture Fuzhou, Fuqing and Pingtan. The army suffered a major defeat during the attempted attack on Kinmen in October 1949. The 28th Army contributed all 9,086 personnel assigned to the operation, and those forces were lost when the landing failed. Later in 1949, the army was assigned counterinsurgency and internal-security duties in Fujian. From 1952 through 1971 its headquarters was in Putian, and it belonged to the Fujian Military Region. Following the 1969 Sino-Soviet border clashes, the army was moved north in 1971 to Houma in Shanxi Province and transferred to the Beijing Military Region. Its headquarters moved to Datong in 1985, during a period of wider PLA restructuring. The 84th Division was dissolved that year. By the late 1990s, the formation included the 82nd and 83rd Infantry Divisions, the 205th Infantry Division, the 7th Armored Division, an artillery brigade, an anti-aircraft brigade, an engineer regiment, a communications regiment and a reconnaissance battalion. Its unit identification number was 51366. The 28th Army became particularly notable for its conduct during the 1989 Tiananmen protests. It was mobilized to enforce martial law in Beijing but encountered resistance from residents and demonstrators. The formation did not reach Tiananmen Square by the initial deadline, did not open fire while moving through the city, and later refused an order to counterattack at Muxidi. Its troops ultimately abandoned positions and withdrew, losing substantial equipment when vehicles were burned. The army was removed from the operation and subjected to a six-month reorganization. Senior officers were demoted or reassigned, and commander He Yanran was court-martialled and demoted. The 28th Army was dissolved in 1998 as part of PLA force restructuring. Its subordinate formations were redistributed: the 82nd Motorized Infantry Division went to the 63rd Army, the 7th Tank Division was reorganized as the 7th Armored Brigade and assigned to the 65th Army, the 83rd Infantry Division became a local reserve division in Shanxi, and the 205th Division was reduced to brigade strength and assigned to the Inner Mongolia Military District.
History
The 28th Group Army's lineage began with guerrilla units connected to the Eighth Route Army in the Bohai Military District of Shandong during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the Second World War, remaining Bohai units were reorganized into the 7th and 11th Divisions of the Shandong People's Liberation Army in 1946. In February 1947 these divisions became the 10th Column of the East China Field Army, commanded by Song Shilun. The column fought at Laiwu, Tai'an and Menglianggu, covered the advance of another field army into the Dabie Mountains, and operated along the Longhai Railway. During 1948 it fought in southern Henan, northern Anhui and northern Jiangsu, participated in the capture of Kaifeng and Jinan, and took part in the Liaoshen Campaign. In February 1949 the 10th Column was redesignated the 28th Army. The new army comprised the 82nd, 83rd and 84th Divisions and numbered about 34,000 personnel. In April it crossed the Yangtze River at Jiangyin during the Shanghai Campaign and captured Taicang and Jiading. It entered Fujian in July and captured Fuzhou, Fuqing and Pingtan in the following months. In October, forces assigned from the army took part in the failed attack on Kinmen. The operation resulted in the loss of all 9,086 personnel contributed by the 28th Army. Afterward, the army was assigned internal-security and counterinsurgency duties in Fujian. From 1952 to 1971 the formation was based at Putian and served under the Fujian Military Region. In response to the strategic tensions highlighted by the 1969 Sino-Soviet border clashes, it was transferred north in 1971 to Houma, Shanxi, and placed under the Beijing Military Region. The headquarters moved to Datong in 1985, when the 84th Division was dissolved. By the end of its existence, the army had been reorganized into a combined-arms formation containing infantry, armored, artillery, air-defense, engineering, communications and reconnaissance elements. Its most politically significant episode came during the 1989 Tiananmen protests. The army received a mobilization order on May 19 and moved the 82nd and 83rd Divisions toward Beijing. Residents and demonstrators blocked its progress, and the formation withdrew to Yanqing northwest of the city center. On June 3 it again advanced but did not fire on civilians and missed the 5:30 a.m. deadline for reaching Tiananmen Square. At Muxidi on June 4, residents described the earlier violence and showed bloodstained clothing to the troops. Although Liu Huaqing ordered an advance supported by a helicopter loudspeaker appeal from Wang Hai, the army's commanders declined to comply. The troops subsequently withdrew, with many taking refuge at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution. Seventy-four vehicles, including 31 armored personnel carriers and two communications vehicles, were burned. The formation was removed from the operation, reorganized for six months, and its senior command was punished. He Yanran was court-martialled and demoted, Zhang Mingchun was reassigned and demoted, and Qiu Jinkai was transferred before later returning to senior command. In 1998 the 28th Army was dissolved. The 82nd Motorized Infantry Division was transferred to the 63rd Army; the 7th Tank Division became the 7th Armored Brigade under the 65th Army; the 83rd Infantry Division became a local reserve formation in Shanxi; and the 205th Division was reduced to brigade strength and assigned to the Inner Mongolia Military District. The dissolution ended the army corps' formal existence.
- 1998
Dissolution
[1]The army was disbanded and its remaining formations were reassigned or converted into reserve and brigade formations.
- 1989
Tiananmen deployment
[1]The army was mobilized for martial-law enforcement in Beijing but did not comply with orders to attack protesters and was subsequently reorganized.
- 1985
Headquarters moved to Datong
[1]The headquarters relocated from Houma to Datong, and the 84th Division was dissolved.
- 1971
Transfer to Shanxi and Beijing Military Region
[1]The formation moved to Houma, Shanxi, and became part of the Beijing Military Region.
- 1952
Putian headquarters period begins
[1]The army was headquartered in Putian and assigned to the Fujian Military Region.
- 1949
28th Army established
[1]The 10th Column was redesignated the 28th Army in February with the 82nd, 83rd and 84th Divisions.
- 1949
Shanghai and Fujian operations
[1]The army crossed the Yangtze, participated in the Shanghai Campaign, and later captured major locations in Fujian.
- 1949
Kinmen defeat
[1]The army's attempted operation against Kinmen failed, with 9,086 assigned personnel lost.
- 1947
10th Column enters the Chinese Civil War
[1]The 7th and 11th Divisions became the 10th Column of the East China Field Army and fought at Laiwu, Tai'an, Menglianggu and elsewhere.
- 1946
Bohai units reorganized
[1]Remaining units of the Bohai Military District were reorganized into the 7th and 11th Divisions of the Shandong People's Liberation Army.
Products and positioning
A military formation and administrative command within the Chinese People's Liberation Army; not a consumer or commercial brand.
Controversies
1989
Conduct during the Tiananmen crackdown
The 28th Army was involved in the 1989 martial-law operation in Beijing but did not comply with orders to enter the city and attack protesters. Its refusal and subsequent withdrawal led to disciplinary action, command changes and a six-month reorganization.
Marketing campaigns
- 1989Tiananmen martial-law deployment
China
The army was deployed toward Beijing during the Tiananmen protests but its advance was repeatedly blocked and its commanders refused orders to attack at Muxidi.
Outcome. The formation withdrew, lost equipment, underwent reorganization, and had senior officers punished.
- 1949Shanghai Campaign
China
The newly formed 28th Army crossed the Yangtze at Jiangyin and captured Taicang and Jiading.
Outcome. The army advanced into the Shanghai area before moving south toward Fujian.
- 1949Fujian operations
China
The army entered Fujian and captured Fuzhou, Fuqing and Pingtan.
Outcome. The operation expanded PLA control in Fujian.
- 1949Kinmen operation
China
The 28th Army contributed 9,086 personnel to an attempted landing on Kinmen.
Outcome. The operation failed and the committed personnel were lost.
- 1948Capture of Kaifeng and Jinan
China
The 10th Column took part in operations that captured Kaifeng and Jinan.
Outcome. The victories preceded the column's later redesignation as the 28th Army.
- 1948Liaoshen Campaign
China
The predecessor formation participated in the Liaoshen Campaign during the final phase of the Chinese Civil War.
Outcome. The campaign was part of the military sequence leading to the establishment of the 28th Army.
- 1947Battle of Laiwu
China
The predecessor 10th Column defeated Nationalist forces under Li Xianzhou during the Chinese Civil War.
Outcome. The engagement contributed to the column's wartime lineage before its redesignation as the 28th Army.
- 1947Battles of Tai'an and Menglianggu
China
The 10th Column participated in major operations in Shandong during the Chinese Civil War.
Outcome. The operations formed part of the predecessor formation's combat record.
Brand decisions
1998
Dissolution and redistribution of subordinate unitsStrategyBackground
PLA force restructuring led to the elimination of the army corps.
Action taken
The 28th Army was dissolved and its divisions and brigades were transferred to other armies or military districts.
Aftermath
The formation ceased to exist as an independent PLA army corps.
1989
Refusal to advance at MuxidiOtherBackground
The army was ordered to enforce martial law during the Tiananmen protests and encountered residents reporting violence by other forces.
Action taken
Commanders declined an order to counterattack and the troops subsequently abandoned their positions.
Aftermath
The army lost 74 vehicles, was withdrawn from the operation, underwent six months of reorganization, and saw senior commanders demoted or reassigned.
1985
Restructuring and headquarters relocationStrategyBackground
The PLA undertook force restructuring during the 1980s.
Action taken
The headquarters moved to Datong and the 84th Division was dissolved.
Aftermath
The army operated with a reduced and increasingly combined-arms structure.
1971
Relocation to northern ChinaStrategyBackground
The PLA adjusted deployments after the 1969 Sino-Soviet border clashes.
Action taken
The 28th Army moved from Putian in Fujian to Houma in Shanxi and transferred to the Beijing Military Region.
Aftermath
The formation remained based in Shanxi until its dissolution, with headquarters later moving to Datong.
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