Fan Changlong

Who is Fan Changlong?

Fan Changlong is a general in the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China, currently a Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and a former commander of the PLA's Jinan Military Region. Fan was born in Dandong, Liaoning Province. He joined the PLA and the Communist Party of China in 1969. He became a major general in 1995, a lieutenant general in 2002, and general on July 15, 2008. Fan has been an alternate member of the 16th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and a full member of the 17th Central Committee. In 2012, ahead of the 18th Party Congress, he was surprisingly appointed Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission. Normally a former commander of a military region would have to command a General Department of the CMC before becoming Vice Chairman.