Ding Laihang (Chinese: 丁来杭; born September 1957) is a general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) who served as Commander of People's Liberation Army Air Force from 2017 to 2021. Prior to that, he was commander of the Shenyang Military Region Air Force and then commander of the Northern Theater Command Air Force.
Ding Laihang | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
丁来杭 | |||||||
 Ding in 2009 | |||||||
| 12th Commander of the People's Liberation Army Air Force | |||||||
| In office August 2017 – September 2021[1] | |||||||
| Preceded by | Ma Xiaotian | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Chang Dingqiu | ||||||
| Commander of the Northern Theater Command Air Force | |||||||
| In office February 2016 – August 2017 | |||||||
| Preceded by | New position | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Xu Xueqiang | ||||||
| Commander of the Shenyang Military Region Air Force | |||||||
| In office August 2012 – January 2016 | |||||||
| Preceded by | Zhou Laiqiang | ||||||
| Succeeded by | Position abolished | ||||||
| Personal details | |||||||
| Born | September 1957 (age 67) Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China | ||||||
| Political party | Chinese Communist Party | ||||||
| Military service | |||||||
| Allegiance |  People's Republic of China | ||||||
| Branch/service |  People's Liberation Army Air Force | ||||||
| Years of service | ?–2021 | ||||||
| Rank |  Air Force General | ||||||
| Commands | People's Liberation Army Air Force Northern Theater Command Air Force Shenyang Military Region Air Force | ||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 丁来杭 | ||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 丁來杭 | ||||||
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Biography
editDing was born in September 1957 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.[2] He became regimental commander of Regiment 71 of 24th Fighter Aviation Division while in his early 30s. From the position of division deputy commander he moved to command of a training base in the Beijing Military Region Air Force, a divisional unit. Like Ma Zhenjun, he emphasized combat-realistic "Red versus Blue" training.[3]
In 2001, he was swiftly promoted to chief of staff of the 8th Corps, deployed on the Taiwan Front, reaching the deputy corps level at the age of 44. When the 8th Corps was reorganized down to the Fuzhou Forward Commanding Post in 2003, Ding was its founding head. In 2007 he was promoted to be president of PLA Air Force Command Academy. A year later he was transferred to the Chengdu Military Region Air Force as its chief of staff. Ding was one of the youngest senior officers among the seven PLAAF Military Regions (at the full corps rank).[3]
In August 2012, Ding was promoted to commander of the Shenyang Military Region Air Force, as well as Deputy Commander of the Shenyang MR.[2] In February 2016, he was appointed the inaugural Air Force commander and deputy commander of the Northern Theater Command, which was newly established in Xi Jinping's military reform.[4] In August 2017, he was promoted to commander of the PLA Air Force, succeeding General Ma Xiaotian.[5]
Ding attained the rank of major general in July 2003, and lieutenant general (zhong jiang) in July 2013. He was a member of the 11th National People's Congress.[2] In October 2017, he was elected as a member of the 19th Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[6] On 31 July 2019 he was promoted to General.[7]
Downfall
editIn November 2023, Ding was put under investigation for a corruption case involving the construction of Beijing Xijiao Airport.[8] On December 4, he was dismissed from his position as a representative of the 14th National People's Congress on suspicion of "serious violations of discipline and law".[9][10][11]
References
edit- ^ "Star General Chang Dingqiu Takes Command of China's Air Force".
- ^ a b c "Ding Laihang" (in Chinese). National Chengchi University. 2015-07-19. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-09-11.
- ^ a b You Ji (2012). "Meeting the Challenge of the Upcoming PLAAF Leadership Reshuffle". The Chinese Air Force: Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities (PDF). National Defense University Press. p. 225. ISBN 978-0-16-091386-0.
- ^ "丁来杭出任北部战区空军司令员，白文奇任政委". Thepaper.cn (in Chinese). 2016-02-06.
- ^ "中国空军新任司令员丁来杭寄语新飞行学员：争当制胜空天的新锐一代！". Sina. 2017-09-01. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
- ^ "List of members of the 19th CPC Central Committee". Xinhua News Agency. 2017-10-24. Archived from the original on October 25, 2017.
- ^ "10 Chinese officers promoted to rank of general- China.org.cn".
- ^ 人大任命新防長 採購弊案9將領被罷 前海軍司令董軍「破格」掌國防 火箭軍空軍3司令涉貪. mingpao.com (in Chinese). 30 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "China's legislature ousts nine military cadres as turmoil widens". japantimes.co.jp. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ "China's Top Legislative Body Ousts Nine Senior Military Officers". caixinglobal.com. 30 December 2023. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
- ^ Liu, Zhen (30 December 2023). "China removes 9 PLA generals from top legislature in sign of wider purge". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
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