Wei Fenghe


Wei Fenghe is a general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army who served as Commander of the PLA Rocket Force, formerly known as the Second Artillery Corps. He is Minister of National Defence and the first-ranked State Councilor in Li Keqiang Cabinet II from March 2018, and also the first-ranked ordinary Member of the Xi Jinping-chaired Central Military Commission.

Biography

Wei Fenghe was born in Liaocheng, Shandong. He joined the People's Liberation Army in December 1970, at the age of 16. Wei graduated from the Second Artillery Command Academy's Command Department in 1984, and rose from the ranks of the Second Artillery Corps to the rank of general. Wei replaced Jing Zhiyuan as Commander of the Second Artillery Corps in October 2012, and was promoted to the rank of General in November 2012. Prior to becoming Commander of the Second Artillery, Wei served as Deputy Chief of Staff on the PLA General Staff Department, a first for a Second Artillery officer. Wei also served as Chief of Staff of the Second Artillery, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Second Artillery, 53rd Base Commander, 54th Base Chief of Staff, and a variety of other command positions in the Second Artillery.
In January 1972, Wei joined the Communist Party of China. Wei was an alternate member of the 17th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and member of the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China.
On March 19, 2018, Wei was appointed as the Minister of National Defence and the State Councilor.