Cao Gangchuan

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General Cao Gangchuan
曹刚川
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
Chairman	Jiang Zemin Hu Jintao
State Councilor of the People’s Republic of China
In office 17 March 2003 – 17 March 2008
Premier	Wen Jiabao
9th Minister of National Defence
In office 17 March 2003 – 17 March 2008
Premier	Wen Jiabao
Preceded by	Chi Haotian
Succeeded by	Liang Guanglie
Head of the People's Liberation Army General Armaments Department
In office April 1998 – November 2002
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Li Jinai
Personal details
Born	December 1935 (1935-12) (age 88) Wugang, Henan, China
Political party	Chinese Communist Party
Military service
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party People's Republic of China
Branch/service	People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service	1954–2008
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.