**Liu Zhenli** is a senior Chinese military officer who has held prominent positions within the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and currently serves on the Central Military Commission (CMC).[2][3] Born in 1961, Liu graduated from the PLA National Defense University in 1983.[2] He began his military career as a company commander in the 12th Reconnaissance Brigade of the Lanzhou Military Region, where he participated in the 1986 border conflict with Vietnam known as the "Two Mountains Border War of Laoshan."[2][4] His combat experience during this engagement demonstrated his military capabilities and distinguished him among contemporary Chinese officers. Throughout his career, Liu advanced through various command positions. He served as chief of staff of the 65th Group Army within the Beijing Military Region in December 2009 and was promoted to major general in December 2010.[2] He subsequently commanded the 65th Group Army and, in March 2014, was appointed commander of the 38th Group Army (later redesignated the 82nd Group Army) based in Baoding, Hebei, within the Central Theater Command.[2] Liu's most significant role came as head of the CMC Joint Staff Department, China's primary military body responsible for combat operations and strategic planning.[4] In this position, he became one of the few senior PLA officers with actual combat experience, a quality that Xi Jinping appears to value highly in military leadership.[5] His appointment to the CMC reflected his standing as a competent and experienced commander capable of modernizing China's armed forces. In recent years, Liu has engaged in high-level diplomatic military exchanges. In August 2025, he met with Australia's Chief of Defence Force Admiral Johnston to discuss bilateral, regional security issues, and the importance of military transparency and communication.[6] Liu's combination of combat experience, operational expertise, and diplomatic engagement has positioned him as a key figure in China's military leadership and strategic planning.