Cao Gangchuan

[citation needed] He was promoted in 1975 to a staff officer and deputy director of General Planning Division of Military Equipment Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff.

In 1998 he was made a member of the Central Military Commission and director and Chinese Communist Party Committee Secretary of PLA General Armament Department.

From 2002 to 2003 he was a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party, vice chairman of the CCP Central Military Commission; director and secretary of Party committee of PLA General Armament Department.

[citation needed] In March 2003, he was appointed as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China as well as state councilor.

[citation needed] In March 2008, he was the director and secretary of CCP committee of PLA General Armament Department.

United States Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld meeting with Cao Gangchuan during his first visit to the People's Republic of China (2005)