General
Chang Wanquan
常万全
State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China
In office
16 March 2013 – 19 March 2018
PremierLi Keqiang
11th Minister of National Defence
In office
16 March 2013 – 19 March 2018
PremierLi Keqiang
Preceded byLiang Guanglie
Succeeded byWei Fenghe
Personal details
BornJanuary 1949 (age 75)
Nanyang, Henan, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Military service
AllegiancePeople's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1968–2018
Rank General
CommandsMinistry of National Defence (2003–2008)
PLA General Armaments Department (2007–2012)
Shenyang Military Region (2004–2007)
47th Group Army (2000–2002)

Chang Wanquan (Chinese: 常万全; born January 1949) is a retired general who was the Minister of Defense and State Councilor of China from 2013 and 2018. He was also a member of the Central Military Commission and helped to manage China's space program.[1][2]

Life and career

Born in Nanyang, Henan Province, in 1949, Chang joined the PLA in March 1968 and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in November of the same year. From January 2002 to December 2004, he was the chief of staff and a CCP committee member of the Lanzhou Military Region. From December 2004 to September 2007, he was the commander of the Shenyang Military Region. He was also director of the PLA General Armaments Department. In October 2007 he was elected as a member of the Central Military Commission.

He attained the rank of senior colonel in 1992, major general in July 1997, lieutenant general in 2003, and full general in October 2007. He has been a member of the 16th, 17th and 18th Central Committee's.

In October 2012, he was appointed as a member of the Central Military Commission (CMC).

At the first plenary session of the 12th National People's Congress in October 2013, he was appointed Minister of National Defense, succeeding General Liang Guanglie. He was also appointed as State Councilor.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Chang Wanquan heads the commanding team of Shenzhou-7 - People's Daily Online".
  2. ^ "China Vitae : Biography of Chang Wanquan".
  3. ^ "NPC endorses new cabinet lineup". Archived from the original on 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
Military offices Preceded byZou Gengren [zh] Commander of the 47th Group Army 2000–2002 Succeeded byXu Fenlin Preceded byQu Fanghuan [zh] Chief of Staff of the Lanzhou Military Region 2002–2003 Succeeded byWang Guosheng Preceded byGao Zhongxing [zh] Chief of Staff of the Beijing Military Region 2003–2004 Succeeded byQiu Jinkai [zh] Preceded byQian Guoliang Commander of the Shenyang Military Region 2004–2007 Succeeded byZhang Youxia Preceded byChen Bingde Head of the People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department 2007–2012 Government offices Preceded byGeneral Liang Guanglie Minister of National Defense 2013 – 2018 Succeeded byGeneral Wei Fenghe
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