Yang Guohai

Yang Guohai was born in May 1950 in Tianjin.^[1] He became commander of the PLAAF 4th Fighter Division in his late 30s, and commander of the Shanghai air base in 1998. He was an associate of Xu Qiliang in Shanghai, who later rose to become Commander of the PLAAF.^[2]

Yang was appointed chief of staff of the Lanzhou Military Region Air Force in 2000, and stayed in the post for six years, which delayed his career advancement. But after he was appointed to deputy chief of staff of the Air Force in 2006, he held that post for hardly a year before being promoted to chief of staff. His deputy period was considered transitional, waiting for the incumbent chief of staff Zhao Zhongxin to vacate the position.^[2]

Yang attained the rank of major general in July 1996, and lieutenant general in July 2009. He was a member of the 11th National People's Congress. He retired in July 2013.^[1]

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