Guiping, Jialaishi and Lingling Relationship with other maritime organizations of China The PLAN is complemented by paramilitary maritime services such as the China Coast Guard. The Chinese Coast Guard was previously not under an independent command, considered part of the People's Armed Police, under the local (provincial) border defense command, prior to its reorganization and consolidation as an unified service. It was formed from the integration of several formerly separate services such as China Marine Surveillance (CMS), General Administration of Customs, Armed Police, China Fishery Law Enforcement and local maritime militia. The CMS performed mostly coastal and ocean search and rescue or patrols, and received quite a few large patrol ships that significantly enhanced their operations; while Customs, militia, Armed Police and Fishery Law Enforcement operated hundreds of small patrol craft. For maritime patrol services, these craft are usually quite well armed with machine guns and 37mm antiaircraft guns. In addition, these services operated their own small aviation fleets to assist their maritime patrol capabilities, with Customs and CMS operating a handful of Harbin Z-9 helicopters, and a maritime patrol aircraft based on the Harbin Y-12 STOL transport. Every coastal province has 1 to 3 Coast Guard squadrons: 3 Squadrons: Fujian, Guangdong 2 Squadrons: Liaoning, Shandong, Zhejiang, Hainan, Guangxi 1 Squadron: Heibei, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shanghai Ranks The ranks in the People's Liberation Army Navy are similar to those of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. The current system of officer ranks and insignia dates from 1988 and is a revision of the ranks and insignia used from 1955 to 1965. The rank of Hai Jun Yi Ji Shang Jiang (First Class Admiral) was never held and was abolished in 1994. With the official introduction of the Type 07 uniforms all officer insignia are on either shoulders or sleeves depending on the type of uniform used. The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 1998. Commissioned officer ranks The rank insignia of commissioned officers. Other ranks The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel. Commanders Xiao Jinguang (January 1950 − January 1980) Ye Fei (January 1980 – August 1982) Liu Huaqing (August 1982 – January 1988) Zhang Lianzhong (January 1988 – November 1996) Shi Yunsheng (November 1996 – June 2003) Zhang Dingfa (June 2003 – August 2006) Wu Shengli (August 2006 – January 2017) Shen Jinlong (January 2017 – September 2021) Dong Jun (September 2021 – present) Contemporary