Lin Biao and the People’s Liberation Army The PLA emerged greatly strengthened from the Cultural Revolution. It played a key role in restoring order and was rewarded. PLA members made up 45% of the new 1968 Central Committee and 2/3 of all members at the 1969 Party Conference were from the PLA. Armed clashes with the USSR in 1969 further raised the prestige of the army. It’s leader Lin Biao exercised enormous power. He was Commander- in-Chief of the PLA, Defence Minister and a member of the CCP Politburo’s Standing Committee – and Mao’s chosen successor.
