Fan Changlong (Chinese: 范长龙; pinyin: Fàn Chánglóng; born May 1947) is a Chinese retired general in the People's Liberation Army (PLA). He was a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and formerly served as commander of the Jinan Military Region.

Fan Changlong
范长龙
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
In office
State Commission:
16 March 2013 – 18 March 2018
Party Commission:
4 November 2012 – 25 October 2017
Serving with Xu Qiliang
ChairmanXi Jinping
Commander of the Jinan Military Region
In office
September 2004 – November 2012
Preceded byChen Bingde
Succeeded byZhao Zongqi
Personal details
BornMay 1947 (age 77)
Dandong, Liaoning, Republic of China
Political partyChinese Communist Party
Alma materPeople's Liberation Army Xuanhua Artillery Academy
People's Liberation Army Military Academy
Beijing University of Science and Technology
Military service
Allegiance China
Branch/service People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Years of service1969–2018
Rank General
CommandsJinan Military Region

Biography

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Fan was born in Dandong, Liaoning. He joined the PLA and the Chinese Communist Party in 1969. He became a major general in 1995, a lieutenant general in 2002, and general on July 15, 2008.[1] Fan has been an alternate member of the 16th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, and a full member of the 17th Central Committee. In 2012, ahead of the 18th Party Congress, he was appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission.

In mid-April 2016, he paid a visit to the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, according to the country’s Ministry of National Defense, which reported the visit on Friday 15 April 2016. Gen. Fan Changlong was said to have been the highest-ranking People’s Liberation Army officer ever to visit the Spratly Islands. General Fan led a delegation to the “relevant Nansha Islands to offer good wishes to officers and personnel stationed there, and also to understand the construction of facilities on the islands,” said a brief statement from the Ministry of National Defense. His tour appeared intended to show China’s determination to ward off any challenges to its claims over the islands, which are also the subject of claims by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taiwan.[2]

Fan Changlong retired from Politburo after the 19th Party Congress in October 2017 and from Central Military Committee in March 2018.

References

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  1. ^ (in Chinese) Fan Changlong Promoted to General chinanews.com
  2. ^ Buckley, Chris (15 April 2016). "Chinese General Visits Disputed Spratly Islands in South China Sea". The New York Times.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the 16th Group Army
1995–2000
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of Staff of the Shenyang Military Region
2000–2003
Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of the Jinan Military Region
2004–2012
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by
Xi Jinping/ Guo Boxiong/ Xu Caihou
Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party
2012–2017
Succeeded by
Xu Qiliang/ Zhang Youxia
Government offices
Preceded by Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission
2013–2017
Succeeded by