In 2008 , Xu was deputy chief of the staff of the Nanjing Military Region Air Force when the Great Sichuan earthquake occurred . He was put in charge of the Nanjing MR air force units in the search and rescue operation . He personally oversaw preparation of aircraft in the Special Rescue Regiment that received emergency mobilization orders at 10:30 p.m. on the night of the earthquake , departing 3 hours later with all necessary materials . He was later promoted to chief of staff of the Nanjing MRAF . He was promoted to Commander of the Guangzhou Military Region Air Force and concurrently Deputy Commander of the Guangzhou MR in 2013 , replacing Zhang Jianping , who had become deputy commander of the PLAAF . Xu was elevated to the rank of lieutenant general on 16 July 2014
Great Sichuan earthquake
2008 Sichuan earthquake
Xu Anxiang