東海艦隊
In December 2009, he was promoted to commander of the East Sea Fleet and concurrently deputy commander of the Nanjing Military Region, a sharp rise from a deputy corps-level post in less than two years. He became chief of staff of the PLAN a year later. In August 2014 he was made deputy commander of the PLAN, replacing Ding Yiping, who had reached the mandatory retirement age.