[1] He enlisted in the People's Liberation Army in 1964 and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1968.

In June 1990, he was promoted to Director of the Political Department of the 16th Group Army, and attained the rank of major general.

[2] In January 1999, Sun became Director of the Political Department of the Shenyang Military Region, and attained the rank of lieutenant general in 2000.

In January 2005, he became vice political commissar and secretary of discipline commission of the Nanjing Military Region.

[2] He graduated from PLA National Defense University and has authored some military books, for example High-Tech War Strategy (高技术战争谋略).