Xu Qiliang

Xu Qiliang (Chinese: 许其亮; March 1950 - ) is a general in the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China, a member of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the current commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Born in Linqu County, Shandong Province, he is the son of Xu Lefu, a lieutenant general and former vice political commissar of the PLA Air Force. He entered the PLA Air Force No. 1 aeronautic preparatory school, learned piloting, and joined the Communist Party of China the following year. Later he transferred to the Air Force No. 8 and No. 5 aeronautic schools. He became a pilot after graduation in August 1969.

Xu was promoted to head of the military division in 1983, and vice army corps commander the next year. In 1985, he became chief of staff at the Air Force Shanghai headquarters, and also entered the PLA National Defense University for training. He was promoted to corps commander of the PLA Air Force in 1991 and was made a major general. In 1993, he became vice chief of staff of the Air Force and studied at the National Defense University again. After graduation, he was promoted to chief of staff of the PLA Air Force. He was made a lieutenant general in 1996.

In 1999, Xu became the vice commander and Air Force commander of the Shenyang Military Region, and studied at the National Defense University for the 3rd time in 2001. He was elevated to vice chief of staff of the PLA General Staff Department. He was made a full general on June 20, 2007, and became the commander of the PLA Air Force in September of that year.

He has been an alternate member of the 14th and 15th Central Committees of the Communist Party of China, and a full member of the 16th and 17th Central Committees.