Cao Gangchuan

Cao Gangchuan
曹刚川
Cao in 2007
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
In office
State Commission:
16 March 2003 – 14 March 2008
Party Commission:
15 November 2002 – 21 October 2007
Serving with Guo Boxiong, Hu Jintao, and Xu Caihou
ChairmanJiang Zemin
Hu Jintao
State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China
In office
17 March 2003 – 17 March 2008
PremierWen Jiabao
9th Minister of National Defence
In office
17 March 2003 – 17 March 2008
PremierWen Jiabao
Preceded byChi Haotian
Succeeded byLiang Guanglie
Head of the People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department
In office
April 1998 – November 2002
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byLi Jinai
Personal details
BornDecember 1935 (1935-12) (age 88)
Wugang, Henan, China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Military service
AllegianceChinese Communist Party
People's Republic of China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1954–2008
Rank General

Cao Gangchuan (simplified Chinese: 曹刚川; traditional Chinese: 曹剛川; pinyin: Cáo Gāngchuān; born December 1935) is a Chinese retired general who was the vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense. He was also state councilor and director of the PLA General Armament Department.