Zhang Wannian, former vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and general of the People's Libration Army, died of an illness on Wednesday at the age of 87, China Central Television reported. Zhang, hailing from Longkou, Shandong province, joined the PLA in August 1944 and became a member of the Central Military Commission in 1992. He was elevated to vice-chairman of the commission in 1995 before being promoted to the Politburo as well as the Chinese Communist Party Secretariat.