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Cao Gangchuan

Cao Gangchuan, native of Wugang, Henan Province, was born in December 1935. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1956 and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in July 1954. He graduated from the Military Engineering School of the Artillery Corps of the Soviet Union. He holds the military rank of general.

He was a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor, minister of national defense and director of the PLA General Armament Department. He was replaced as Vice-Chairman by Xu Caihou when he reitred in 2007.

Cao, from 1954 to1956, was student of Nanjing No. 3 Artillery Ordnance Technical School and No.1 Ordnance Technical School and became a teacher of the No. 1 Ordnance Technical School in 1956. From 1956 to 1957 Cao studied Russian at the PLA Dalian Russian-Language School. After completing language training in 1957 Cao studied at the Military Engineering School of the Artillery Corps of the Soviet Union.

From 1963 to 1969 Cao was Assistant of Ammunition Division of Ordnance Department of PLA General Logistics Department. In 1969 Cao was promoted to Assistant of Munitions Division of Military Equipment Department of PLA General Logistics Department where he served until 1975.

In 1975 Cao became a staff officer and Deputy Director of General Planning Division of Military Equipment Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff. From 1982 to 1989 Cao served as Deputy director of Military Equipment Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff.

From 1989 to 1990 Cao was a Director of Military Affairs Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff. In 1990 Cao became Director of the Office of Military Trade of Central Military Commission. In 1992 Cao was promoted to Deputy chief of the general staff of PLA. From 1996 to 1998 Cao served as Minister of Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and in 1998 became Director of PLA General Armament Department.

In 1998 Cao became a member of the CPC Central Military Commission; director and secretary of Party committee of PLA General Armament Department. In 2003 Cao became a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and was elected Vice-Chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission; director and secretary of Party committee of PLA General Armament Department as well as State Councilor. He was a member of the 15th CPC Central Committee and a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee as well as a member of the Political Bureau of the 16th CPC Central Committee.