Cao Gangchuan, native of Wugang, Henan Province, was born in December 1935. He joined the Communist Party of China (CPC) in July 1956 and the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in July 1954. He graduated from the Military Engineering School of the Artillery Corps of the Soviet Union. He holds the military rank of general.

He is now a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor, minister of national defense and director of the PLA General Armament Department.

1954-1956: Student of Nanjing No. 3 Artillery Ordnance Technical School and No.1 Ordnance Technical School; teacher of the No. 1 Ordnance Technical School in 1956.

1956-1957: Student of the PLA Dalian Russian-Language School.

1957-1963: Student of Military Engineering School of the Artillery Corps of the Soviet Union.

1963-1969: Assistant of Ammunition Division of Ordnance Department of PLA General Logistics Department.

1969-1975: Assistant of Munitions Division of Military Equipment Department of PLA General Logistics Department.

1975-1982: Staff officer and deputy director of General Planning Division of Military Equipment Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff.

1982-1989: Deputy director of Military Equipment Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff.

1989-1990: Director of Military Affairs Department of PLA Headquarters of the General Staff.

1990-1992: Director of the Office of Military Trade of Central Military Commission.

1992-1996: Deputy chief of the general staff of PLA.

1996-1998: Minister of Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

1998-1998: Director of PLA General Armament Department.

1998-2002: Member of the CPC Central Military Commission; director and secretary of Party committee of PLA General Armament Department.

2002-2003: Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, vice chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission; director and secretary of Party committee of PLA General Armament Department.

In March 2003, he was also appointed as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China as well as state councilor.

He was a member of the 15th CPC Central Committee, and is now a member of the 16th CPC Central Committee and member of the Political Bureau of the 16th CPC Central Committee.