Qiu Yanpeng

Qiu Yanpeng was born in 1956 in Wudi County, Shandong Province. He graduated from Dalian Naval Academy.^[1]

Qiu was appointed deputy chief of staff of the East Sea Fleet in 2009, and attained the rank of rear admiral a year later. In December 2013, he succeeded Tian Zhong as commander of the North Sea Fleet as well as Deputy Commander of the Jinan Military Region. Less than a year later, Qiu was appointed Chief of Staff of the PLA Navy, succeeding Du Jingchen. Yuan Yubai replaced him as commander of the North Sea Fleet.^[1] In July 2015, Qiu was promoted to the rank of vice-admiral, together with Yuan Yubai.^[2]

Although Qiu began his career when the Chinese navy was still a small coastal force, he has accumulated extensive experience commanding blue-water operations and engaging with foreign militaries.^[3] In 2007, he commanded the Aman-07 naval exercise. It was the first time the Chinese navy joined an international naval exercise, and the first time for a Chinese officer to command foreign naval forces.^[1] In the same year, he also led a destroyer formation to Indonesia, on the Chinese navy's first visit to the country in more than a decade.^[3]

Qiu also led the PLAN's fourth Gulf of Aden anti-piracy task force in 2009 and 2010, sailing into the Persian Gulf for the first time in the history of the Chinese Navy. The ships paid a port visit to Abu Dhabi, and visited Manila, the Philippines on their way home.^[3][1] In 2011, Qiu commanded the Chinese Peace Ark hospital ship in the 105-day-long "Harmonious-Mission 2011". The ship sailed for more than 24,600 nautical miles, and provided medical care in several Caribbean countries including Cuba, Jamaica, Costa Rica, and Trinidad and Tobago.^[3]