Beijing, the Chinese mainland – Xu Qiliang, a towering figure in China’s modern military history and former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, died of illness on Monday at 12:12 p.m., aged 75, according to an official statement.
Over nearly six decades in uniform, Xu rose from a young recruit to one of the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) most respected strategists and leaders. He joined the PLA in July 1966 and became a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1967.
In June 2007, he was promoted to the rank of Air Force General, marking a milestone in a career defined by innovation and loyalty. Xu served on the Political Bureau of the 18th and 19th Central Committees of the CPC and as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, guiding key decisions on defense and modernization.
An official statement praised Xu as an excellent CPC member, a time-tested and loyal communist soldier, a proletarian military strategist and an outstanding leader of the PLA.
His leadership spanned pivotal moments in China’s defense evolution, from early reforms to recent technological upgrades. Colleagues remember his knack for integrating cutting-edge aviation strategies with national security goals – a legacy that continues to shape the PLA’s trajectory today.
As global dynamics shift and military innovations accelerate, Xu Qiliang’s life story offers insights into the blend of ideology, strategy and adaptability that defines modern defense leadership in the Chinese mainland.
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Former senior Chinese military official Xu Qiliang passes away
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