He lived through four governments (Qing, Beiyang, Nationalist, Communist) in China, and had been appointed to various senior naval and political offices.

Sa Zhenbing was born in Fuzhou, Fujian province, to a Semu family of Qarluk origin who had lived in the area since the late Yuan dynasty.

Command of the Chinese Forces fell to Scottish-born Vice-Admiral John McClure, who completed the surrender negotiations with Admiral Ito.

One of its first acts was to abolish regional fleets in order to create a unified naval force for the Qing dynasty, and Sa Zhenbing was made the commander-in-chief of the navy, with his headquarters in Shanghai.

Sa Zhenbing briefly served as acting Prime Minister under the Beiyang government in 1920,[3] then as Governor of Fujian Province from 1922 to 1926.