On the 94th birthday of 'Big Jiw,' General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, senior military officers came forward to offer congratulations. This article opens the biography of the 'Zhuge Liang of the Army,' from the Cold War era to a leading figure in Thai politics.
On 15 May 2026, General Dr. Kittisak Ratprasert posted on his personal Facebook with photos, stating it was the 94th birthday of Big Jiw, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh.
On 14 May 2026, General Santi Sakuntanak, Chairman of the Army Advisory Board, as representative of General Pana Klaewplodtuk, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, led a group of senior Army officers carrying flower baskets to congratulate General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, former Prime Minister, on his 94th birthday at Waterhouse Village in the Ram Inthra area, warmly welcomed by Mrs. Ornthai Songkarn Yongchaiyudh.
General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh was born on 15 May 1932. He is a Thai Army officer and politician, the 22nd Prime Minister of Thailand. He has served as Deputy Prime Minister and held several ministerial posts, leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives, member of parliament, senator, founder and leader of the New Aspiration Party, Commander-in-Chief of the Army, and acting Supreme Commander. He earned the nickname 'Zhuge Liang of the Army.'
He completed secondary education at Amnuaysilpa School and Triam Udom Suksa School, then studied at Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy (first class) and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
In 1953, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy, first class.
In 1964, completed the Staff Course at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.
He received several honorary doctorates from institutions including Pepperdine University (USA), Khon Kaen University, Nakhon Phanom University, and Rajamangala University of Technology Tawan-ok.
After the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 and during the Cambodia–Vietnam conflict, the Thai government was concerned about border security. They sent a delegation of three officers—Lieutenant General Phin Kaset, Colonel Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, and Colonel Pat Akhanibutr—to secretly negotiate with Deng Xiaoping in China.
The negotiations led China to cease support for the Communist Party of Thailand and supply military equipment to Thailand. China also launched a punitive war against Vietnam. General Chavalit was honored by the Chinese military to fire the first artillery shot from Guangxi into Vietnam, forcing Vietnam to withdraw forces from Cambodia to defend its own territory.
General Chavalit resigned as Commander-in-Chief of the Army to enter politics, founding the New Aspiration Party. He played a key role in the 1992 Black May events as a speaker demanding the resignation of General Suchinda Kraprayoon.
In 1996, he led the New Aspiration Party to electoral victory and served as Prime Minister but resigned in 1997 due to the Asian financial crisis (Tom Yum Goong Crisis).
In 2001, he joined the Thai Rak Thai Party and served as Deputy Prime Minister in Thaksin Shinawatra's government.
After the 2006 coup, he tried to act as a 'middle chain' to promote reconciliation.
In 2008, he served as Deputy Prime Minister in Somchai Wongsawat's government but resigned following the events of 7 October.
From 2009 to 2011, he was with the Pheu Thai Party and served as party chairman before resigning due to political differences within the party.
After the 2014 coup, he continued to voice political opinions and criticized the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, focusing on economic issues and the livelihoods of the people.